Redistricting bill to have second reading on the Indiana House floor Thursday
INDIANAPOLIS, IN -- The House reconvened on Monday to take up redistricting, following months of pressure from President Trump and calls from Indiana Governor Mike Braun to make it happen.
On Monday, the house referred HB 1032, the Redistricting bill, to committee, despite efforts by House Democrats to reject the bill on its first reading.
The elections committee passed the bill 8-5, and the committee report sent it to the house floor for its second reading on Thursday after a 63-23 vote.
According to Axios, Rep. Ben Smaltz (R-Auburn), author of HB 1032, said, “These maps were specifically drawn for political advantage."
Representatives will convene on Thursday at 1:30 for the second reading of HB 1032.
On Monday, Rep. Maureen Bauer (D-South Bend), told ABC57’s Jordan Tolbert that second readings on Thursday will open up the opportunity for amendments by any member of the house, Republican or Democrat. Then, Friday will be the final third-reading vote.
On Wednesday, Governor Mike Braun, shared his thoughts on redistricting in an interview with ABC57:
“The House of Representatives are faster-footed than the Senate. I think they're more clear-headed on the subject, and this is about the national landscape not being fair. Currently, six blue states outside of California have been gerrymandered for two decades. And if we want to play on an even playing field, it makes sense. I know it upsets some because it's between a census and the last one, but if we're going to be competitive, you gotta do it. And the house had the votes and was going to be held up by the Senate. And when I saw the Senate purposely trying to do it behind closed doors, dragging their feet, especially when all the senators were becoming public for it. That's why we needed to get to where we are.”
The Indiana state Senate reconvenes Monday, December 8th. Senate President Pro-Tem Rodric Bray says they will make a final decision that week on any redistricting proposal sent by the house.