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Eye On Boise

Redistricters back at it with deadline looming…

Idaho Redistricting Commission co-chairman Evan Frasure, left, and Allen Andersen, right, talk during the commission's meeting Tuesday morning; at center is commission secretary Cyd Gaudet. (Betsy Russell)
Idaho Redistricting Commission co-chairman Evan Frasure, left, and Allen Andersen, right, talk during the commission's meeting Tuesday morning; at center is commission secretary Cyd Gaudet. (Betsy Russell)

Idaho's bipartisan citizen redistricting commission is back in session this morning, with a looming deadline: 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 6, according to the Idaho Attorney General's office, which responded to a request from the commissioners with a legal opinion stating that this morning. The reason: The commission's 90 days are actually up on Sunday, but state law makes both Sunday and the following Monday designated holidays - it's Labor Day - meaning congressional and legislative redistricting plans must be submitted to the Idaho Secretary of State by Tuesday at the close of business.

GOP Co-Chairman Evan Frasure, left, questioned the opinion, noting that commissioners have been debating the application of constitutional vs. statutory requirements.  "We could wrap this thing up on Friday if we so chose to," Frasure said, rather than go to Tuesday. "Even though statutorily they're saying we can, I'm not so sure constitutionally we can." Democratic Co-Chairman Allen Andersen, right, agreed to wait until Deputy Attorney General Brian Kane arrives at the meeting to answer questions before addressing whether the commission should schedule meetings for Tuesday, and possibly Sunday too. It's already scheduled to meet today, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.



Betsy Z. Russell
Betsy Z. Russell joined The Spokesman-Review in 1991. She currently is a reporter in the Boise Bureau covering Idaho state government and politics, and other news from Idaho's state capital.

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