Redistricting commission proposal advanced

Redistricting in Nebraska would be the responsibility of an independent commission under a bill advanced from general file April 2.

Currently, the Legislature is responsible for drawing new governmental boundaries every 10 years after the decennial census for districts pertaining to the U.S. House of Representatives, the Legislature, Public Service Commission, University of Nebraska Board of Regents and the State Board of Education.

LB976, as introduced by Wilber Sen. Russ Karpisek, would create an Independent Redistricting Advisory Commission. Two commission members of different party affiliation would be chosen by each congressional legislative caucus and subject to approval by the full Legislature.

The six-member commission would submit proposed redistricting maps to the Legislature for approval.

“The purpose of LB976 is to take the necessary first step to removing partisanship from the redistricting process,” Karpisek said.

He said he had worked with opponents since the bill first was discussed on general file March 20, adding that he continued to be willing to make adjustments. He offered an amendment, adopted 26-8, which made several changes to the commission membership and process.

Under the amendment, membership would be restricted to Nebraska citizens who are registered to vote and have not changed political party affiliation for at least two years. Registered lobbyists, public or political officeholders and their relatives would be prohibited from serving on the commission.

The amendment also removed a two-year prohibition on commission members participating in political campaigns or running for or holding an office within the commission’s redistricting authority.

“My goal here is to get to the end, to get to having the commission,” Karpisek said. “My fight is not how we get there.”

Gretna Sen. John Murante raised several technical concerns regarding the bill. He offered and later withdrew a motion to recommit LB976 to the Executive Board.

“This bill, in my view, contains technical deficiencies that I don’t know how we fix without rewriting it from top to bottom,” Murante said.

Sen. Heath Mello of Omaha supported the bill and Karpisek’s amendment, saying the opposition appeared to be politically rather than substantively motivated. An independent commission has worked well in Iowa, he said, and would improve the redistricting process in Nebraska.

“I haven’t heard an argument against this bill besides: We just don’t like it,” Mello said.

Senators voted 25-12 to advance LB976 to select file.