Closed-door negotiations over a new way to draw Ohio’s Congressional map have broken down. Ohio lawmakers and representatives from citizens’ groups left the Statehouse late Wednesday night without coming to an agreement.
The two sides have been trying to amend a redistricting plan GOP lawmakers want in a way that would be acceptable to citizens’ groups that are pushing their own reform for the fall ballot.
But shortly after 10 p.m. Wednesday, Catherine Turcer from Common Cause Ohio said changes had not been enough to accomplish her groups’ basic goals.
“It does not address gerrymandering," Turcer said. "It does not keep communities together. And it doesn’t prohibit drawing a district map to favor or disfavor one political party. These are basic things you want in any proposal.”
Talks continue but lawmakers are running out of time. They’d need to pass their plan before February 7 to get it on the May ballot.
