Citizen testimony demonstrates widespread distrust for Republican redistricting bill

Senator Jeff Smith and Senator Mark Spreitzer speak at a committee hearing for the Senate Committee on Shared Revenue, Elections and Consumer Protection.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Emily Thomas
(608) 266-8546
emily.thomas@legis.wisconsin.gov

Senator Jeff Smith: Widespread distrust for GOP redistricting bill

MADISON – Today the Senate Committee on Shared Revenue, Elections and Consumer Protection held a public hearing on Assembly Bill 415 (AB 415) and Senate Bill 488 (SB 488), which create a new redistricting process.

As far back as 2009, when Senator Jeff Smith (D-Brunswick) held a public hearing on this same issue, the Wisconsin Legislature has ignored redistricting reform. Now, 14 years later, they’re finally holding a public hearing on a bill to sidestep pending litigation relating to redistricting.

Senator Smith issued the following statement:

“The hypocrisy from the authors of AB 415 today was apparent and clearly frustrated the public. Only the bill’s authors registered and testified in favor of this bill. First, the authors insisted this proposal had nothing to do with pending redistricting litigation, then they turned around to say this proposal was designed to forestall that very same litigation. They said they want to include congressional redistricting, but their instructions to bill drafters were to not address it. They say detached municipal areas should be considered contiguous.

“It beggars the imagination how they can hold these contradictory positions, but here we are. What should we believe?

“Public trust has to be earned. Any legislation that continues to uphold the partisan gerrymandering process does a disservice to Wisconsinites and does a disservice to an equitable representative democracy. Half of the bill’s authors signed secrecy oaths to shield their gerrymandering from the public.

“It’s understandable the public doesn’t trust this gerrymandered legislature to do the job without trying to save their own behinds. We need a constitutional amendment to create a Wisconsin model of redistricting for 2030.”

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The 31st Senate District includes all of Buffalo, Pepin and Trempealeau counties and portions of Pierce, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson and St. Croix counties.