The Idaho Republican Party has issued a press release noting the state's citizen redistricting commission's failure to meet its Tuesday 5 p.m. deadline to draw new congressional and legislative district lines, and calling for re-examining the makeup of the evenly split bipartisan commission. “It doesn’t surprise me that a six member commission, made up of equal parts Republicans and Democrats could not reach an agreement on a single map,” Idaho GOP Chairman Norm Semanko said. “For the sake of the taxpayer and to accurately reflect the political will of the people, I hope the legislature will consider the idea of revisiting the makeup of the Commission so ten years from now we won’t have a repeat of this year, in which precious money, resources, and time were spent only to reach a stalemate." Click below for the party's full statement.

FOR RELEASE:                 
September 6, 2011                                                                                                

Deadline Passes Without Redistricting Commission Reaching an Agreement

Boise, ID – Today marked the ninety-day deadline for Idaho’s citizen commission for reapportionment to reach an agreement on a new map outlining both congressional and legislative boundaries. The commission, made up of three Republicans and three Democrats, requires a fourth vote to give approval to a single proposal. With the deadline passing without an agreement, the process now moves on to the Idaho Supreme Court.

“We are saddened and express regrets that we couldn’t reach an agreement on a new map that would have served Idahoans well for the next ten years, while at the same time meeting both the constitutional and statutory requirements that were required of us,” stated Lou Esposito, spokesman for the Republican redistricting commissioners. Esposito continued, “Republican Commissioner Finman and Democrat Commissioner Kane came close to brokering an agreement and should be commended for their work; unfortunately, we weren’t able to reach an agreement.  Now we will just have to sit tight and wait for further clarification from the Idaho Supreme Court.”

Norm Semanko, Chairman of the Idaho Republican Party added: “It doesn’t surprise me that a six member commission, made up of equal parts Republicans and Democrats could not reach an agreement on a single map.” Semanko continued, “For the sake of the taxpayer and to accurately reflect the political will of the people, I hope the legislature will consider the idea of revisiting the makeup of the Commission so ten years from now we won’t have a repeat of this year, in which precious money, resources, and time were spent only to reach a stalemate.

 

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