The Senate has voted 30-5 to pass SB 1184, the redistricting legislation sponsored by Senate President Pro-Tem Bob Geddes, R-Soda Springs. Idaho's legislative districts used to be redrawn by lawmakers themselves; voters approved a constitutional amendment in 1994 to instead hand the job to an appointed citizen commission. Sen. Denton Darrington, R-Declo, told the Senate, "I was very much opposed to the constitutional amendment. I fought it as hard as I could, but it still prevailed." He said he thought the last reapportionment didn't adequately preserve communities of interest in legislative districts, and said he thought Geddes' bill would improve that by giving new directions to the commission.

Geddes said to get from the north end to the south end of his legislative district, "One would have to drive through five other legislative districts to get there," or into Wyoming. "That's the type of situation that we're trying to eliminate," he said. Sen. Nicole LeFavour, D-Boise, said the simple fact that Idaho's less-populated counties are so large creates such situations. Sen Joyce Broadsword, R-Sagle, said the bill would prevent her from representing the people now in the southern part of her district, but she supported it anyway, saying a future senator might not work as hard as she does to stay in touch with that portion that's isolated from the rest of the district for lack of road connections. "I feel it is important to do what's best for the citizens of Idaho," she told the Senate. The bill now moves to the House.

---

---