MADISON (WSAU) Wisconsin’s only Democratic constitutional officer has slowed down the Republicans’ apparent effort to create a redistricting plan that’s favorable to them. Secretary of State Doug La Follette says he won’t publish a law until Monday that lets the state draw its new districts before local governments draw theirs. And that’s forcing Governor Scott Walker to hold up on his possible approval of the new state-and-congressional districts that lawmakers endorsed on July 19th-and-20th.
Under the present law, local governments must draw their new district lines first, and the state’s districts must follow those lines. But majority Republicans disregarded the locals when they approved their maps last month – apparently in a rush to get them in place before the G-O-P runs the risk of losing its control of the Senate the recall elections which begin on Tuesday.
The Legislature also passed a law allowing what they did to become legal. It’s not legal now – and U-W Milwaukee analyst Mordecai Lee says if Walker approves the new maps now, a judge could rule that the state broke the law by not waiting for the locals to complete their redistricting first. Walker signed the bill granting the state’s ability to draw its maps first – and the Democrat La Follette is delaying its publication by the maximum time allowed.
Meanwhile, Walker faces a deadline of Tuesday to act on the maps that were passed by the Legislature – or else they could go into effect without his signature.
