Speaker Batchelder Releases Statement on Supreme Court’s Reapportionment Ruling

Release:

COLUMBUS—In response to the Ohio Supreme Court’s ruling that the Ohio legislative districts drawn up in the 2012-2022 apportionment plan are constitutional, Speaker of the Ohio House William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) released the following statement:

“I am very pleased by the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the constitutionality of the newly apportioned legislative districts. I have believed from the beginning that the good work of the apportionment board was well within the clear confines of the law and successfully created districts that will allow Ohioans to be appropriately represented in the Statehouse. I’d like to commend Governor Kasich, Senate President Niehaus, Secretary of State Husted and Auditor Yost for their tireless efforts to create fair and legal Ohio legislative districts in Ohio.

“Today’s decision is recognition that the current system was done fairly and appropriately. However, while I agree with the majority opinion of the Court, I do believe that the process for legislative reapportionment needs to be reviewed and examined for possible reform. I have said previously that the Constitutional Modernization Commission would be a perfect avenue for such discussions to take place and I maintain that same sentiment today.”

Bubp: Congressional Map Receives Bipartisan Support in Ohio House

Release:

COLUMBUS—State Representative Danny Bubp (R-Lake Waynoka) has announced that after months of diligent work and many regional hearings throughout Ohio, the Ohio House of Representatives today passed House Bill 319, which establishes boundaries for Ohio’s 16 congressional districts based on the 2010 decennial census. The legislation—which passed with the support of the House’s Cuyahoga County Democrats—adheres to the U.S. Constitution, the Ohio Constitution, and the Voting Rights Act to ensure that it respects all requirements set forth in law.

“I am pleased by the hard work of the legislature to put forth sixteen new congressional maps that will allow residents to be fairly represented in Washington D.C.,” stated Bubp.

The map outlined in H.B. 319 treats incumbent candidates equally, with three Republican and three Democrat incumbents drawn into overlapping territories. It also complies with clear precedents of the federal Voting Rights Act and the U.S. Supreme Court in ensuring that the civil rights of minority communities are protected in the redistricting process. Similarly, it creates an additional minority opportunity district in Franklin County.

However, despite the opportunity for bipartisanship in the redrawing of district lines, the House Republican Caucus did not receive a single suggestion for a congressional map from the House Democrats—even though the minority caucus was granted equal funding for such a project. Like all Ohioans, the House Democrats were encouraged to research and submit congressional map proposals for consideration by the State Government and Elections Committee.

H.B. 319 will now move to the Ohio Senate for further consideration and debate.

Re: Ohio Redistricting of Congressional Districts

Justin Higgins says one of the most important things that I have heard about the redistricting plan over at his blog:

Should geographic proximity force a coalition of fiscal and social conservatives, many of them holding a “rigid partisan ideology” to accept a moderate member of one of the two parties in the name of “accountability” for the sake of “competition”? Simply put, while the map may be ugly, the lack of swing districts in no way makes lawmakers less accountable. If anything, it shifts more of the fight to primaries, where voters can define their preference of lawmaker amongst choices that are all marginally acceptable to the voters.

Emphasis added.

Now, the next thing we have to tackle is keeping Kevin DeWine and his crew out of these races (and all races) and this idea might actually work.

Statement on HJR 15 From Leader Batchelder and Rep. Mecklenborg

Statement:

COLUMBUS—House Republican Leader William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) and State Rep. Robert Mecklenborg (R-Green Township), who serves as the Ranking Member of Elections & Ethics Committee, today issued the following statement regarding House Joint Resolution 15.

“House Joint Resolution 15 clutters our state’s most basic document, the state constitution, with a 13-page amendment that we fear will be cavalier in addressing redistricting concerns raised by interested parties. Without close further inspection of the proposal, this action clearly violates the bipartisan spirit under which the General Assembly is intended to champion. Bipartisan support will be needed for the proposal to pass, and the House Republican Caucus remains confident that there may be support for a plan that is viable, one that advances the long-term interests of the state and stands ready to work with their legislative colleagues on this important matter.”

You can read up on HJR 15 here.