As a hopeful Secretary of State Shemia Fagan most certainly noted, the Oregon House passed what has been touted as highly-partisan redistricting maps with the minimum 31 votes needed to pass and just hours before the court-imposed deadline. House Republican Leader Christine Drazan (R-Canby) blasted the plan, which passed over her "no" vote. “These partisan maps are a wake-up call for Oregonians. They know Democrats had to cheat to get these maps across the floor.

The passage marks a black mark for Oregon House Speaker -- and now gubernatorial candidate -- Tina Kotek, who was all too happy to get concessions from Republicans to provide quorum and stop requiring bills to be read in their entirety only to renege on he promise to give Republicans equal representation on the redistricting committee.

Drazan continued, "Democrats in Oregon have passed rigged political maps that will guarantee super-sized majorities in the legislature and immediate control of more than 80 percent of Oregon’s congressional seats. They should be ashamed that they have gerrymandered Oregonians out of their shot at fair elections for the next decade.

"This is by no means over. The illegal congressional map adopted today, clearly drawn for partisan benefit, will not survive legal challenge. Political gerrymandering in Oregon is illegal and drawing congressional lines to ensure 5 out of 6 seats for your party long-term is gerrymandering.

Representative E. Werner Reschke (R-Klamath Falls) said, "I have no doubt that these maps could have been even worse if they went to the Secretary of State. That’s why this process has failed the people."

After the vote, the bill had to return to the Oregon Senate where the Senate concurred in House amendments which, according to Senate Republican Leader Fred Girod (R-Lyons) "seek to cement Democrat dominance in Oregon for the next decade."

The Senate vote was 18-6, with all Republicans voting no. The plan now goes to the Governor for her signature.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2021-09-27 17:16:11

Last Update: 2021-09-27 17:40:56