Republicans Rubber-Stamp Their Gerrymandered Maps
Madison – Today, Republicans on the Senate Committee on Government Operations, Legal Review and Consumer Protection voted to advance their proposed redistricting maps with a partisan 4-2 vote. Their illegitimate maps are based on 2011's extreme partisan gerrymander, which rendered the Wisconsin legislature voter-proof for the last decade. Now, they are using those maps as the basis to cement a new set of gerrymandered maps to give Republicans unchecked power for the next decade. The state senate is expected to take up these maps on November 8, 2021.
Upon passage of Senate Bill 621 and Senate Bill 622, the Democratic senators on the committee released the following statements:
Sen. Kelda Roys (26th District – Madison):
“Wisconsin voters are clear -- they want nonpartisan, fair maps, not heavily gerrymandered districts drawn by politicians to insulate themselves from accountability. These maps double down on the last ten years of gerrymandering -- Wisconsin is already the most gerrymandered state in the nation, yet GOP leaders want to engage in an even more blatant power grab. Wisconsin voters deserve a real voice, but these proposed maps will silence them for another ten years.
“It's past time for fair maps.”
Sen. Jeff Smith (31st District – Brunswick):
“The public unanimously opposed these maps during the nine-hour long hearing. Never in my years in the legislature have I seen controversial bills like these not get at least one person to support it. For the last decade, Republicans ignored their constituents and failed to create a nonpartisan redistricting commission. The public has spoken: Scrap the map, do the right thing for Wisconsin.
“Republicans are eager to bake in their gerrymander and cling to power at the expense of our democracy. Wisconsinites have every reason to feel disappointed by the Majority Party’s actions today.”
###