MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Wisconsin’s legislative boundaries will soon be changing. In December, the court overturned the state’s existing, Republican-drawn maps.
That set into motion a deadline for Governor Tony Evers and the legislature to agree on new maps, or else consultants would provide their version to the court. Thursday was the deadline.
Even though the ongoing debate is no longer under the control of lawmakers, it’s showing no signs of slowing down.
“It is vitally important that we get this right,” Senate Minority Leader Melissa Agard said. “There is too much on the line for us to continue to have a gerrymander in the state of Wisconsin.”
“There’s nothing wrong with our current maps,” Republican State Representative Ron Tusler said. “What was wrong was Governor Evers’ maps that he laid out a week or two ago.”
Ultimately, the maps that are chosen will determine the state’s future, as the new districts will determine the lawmakers representing them.
“People want politicians working for them as opposed to politicians working for themselves,” Agard said. “And with this case moving through the Wisconsin Supreme Court, I am hopeful that 2024 is going to be the beginning of restoring democracy here in the state of Wisconsin.”
Members of the legislature will be watching closely.
“I already moved once before for all the drama and now, you know, I might have to move again,” Tusler said. “I’m certainly interested in that.”
Under the existing maps, Republicans hold a 22-11 majority in the Senate, and a 64-35 majority in the Assembly. A Marquette University statistics model shows a change to 17-16 and 53-46 under Governor Evers’ recent proposal.
“The majority party is addressing what it is that matters to them as opposed to what matters to their constituents,” Agard said.
Last week, Republicans proposed and passed their own version.
“They are really, really, really similar,” Tusler said. “They’re 0.07% difference. And really, all it was doing it was helping a couple representatives that were really close to the line, so they don’t have to sell their house or move.”
Evers vetoed it, officially taking the matter out of the hands of lawmakers, and putting it into those of the state’s liberal controlled Supreme Court.
“I think it’s priceless that Speaker Vos and the Republicans in the state legislature and trying to say that when they gerrymander a non-gerrymander map, that it’s not actually a gerrymander,” Agard said.
Agard believes it’s a decision that will influence several key issues like abortion, gun control and marijuana legalization. While the other side says it ultimately won’t change who has power in Madison.
“Republicans have always had better candidates, you know, people with business experience or retired leaders,” Tusler said. “We’ve had better campaign experience.”
Tusler believes the decision could eventually go before the U.S. Supreme Court.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has also been asked by Democrats to take up a challenge to the state’s congressional district lines. Republicans currently hold five of the state’s eight congressional seats.
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