DENVER—Republican state Representative Mike May is proposing to change the way Colorado redraws congressional and legislative districts
The contentious process occurs every 10 years using federal census data to make sure districts have equal population.
Legislative districts are currently drawn by an 11-member commission appointed by the governor, chief justice of the state Supreme Court and legislative leaders. The Legislature draws the boundaries for congressional districts.
May wants a single, five member committee to do both jobs, in an attempt to avoid contentious partisan debate about district boundaries.
Republicans and Democrats would pick four of the members from a pool chosen by the judiciary, and then that group would pick a fifth member.
State Representative Paul Weissman says he agrees the process needs to change, but that it should be debated next year. Weissman says lawmakers are too tied up this year with serious budget problems, and less than a month remains in the session.
