Redistricting (Ne US House) plan filibustered (by D's)

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Omaha World Herald

LINCOLN -- Outnumbered but undaunted, Democrats in the officially nonpartisan Nebraska Legislature launched a filibuster Monday in hopes of altering a GOP senator-backed plan to redraw the state's three U.S. House districts.

State Sen. Russ Karpisek of Wilber launched the talkfest, proposing an alternative plan to the congressional map drawn by a Republican, Omaha Sens. Scott Lautenbaugh.

Republicans enjoy a 34-15 advantage in the Legislature and last week flexed those partisan muscles in giving first-round approval to the Lautenbaugh plan.

That plan would send Bellevue and Offutt Air Force Base out of the Omaha-based 2nd Congressional District and into the 1st District, with Lincoln, Columbus and Norfolk.

Read more: http://www.omaha.com/article/20110523/NEWS01/705249997/0#redistricting-plan-filibustered

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Thank you State Sen. Russ Karpisek!!! We grew a pair. Thank you Wisconsin for showing us how to fight back.

We D's were getting railroaded. Next test will be in the courts.

[Brickbat]

1. Bellevue and Offut into the first? WTF? That's hilarious.

Nice to the see Dems take a stand. :thumbsup: K&R

[Cal33]

2. Yes. I also hope that this is not a one-time thing, but it's becoming a regular habit !!

[DallasNE]

3. What The Republican Plan Does

Is to carve the Omaha suburb Bellevue, in eastern Sarpy County, out of the 2nd district where it has always been and replaces it with wholely rural western Sarpy County. Something needs to be taken from the current 2nd district. Omaha resides in Douglas County but the Elkhorn River is a barrier to growth in western Douglas County. Putting western Douglas County in the 1st district along with a much smaller suburb in north central Sarpy county would give the proper population split. The 2nd district would still lean Republican under this proposal but not be safe Republican and therein lies the rub. 10 years from now the area in western Sarpy County will again be removed from the 2nd district (if Nebraska retains 3 seats and that is not a for sure) so it seems silly to do this for a single decade.