Oregon Senate passes redistricting plan

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Originally published June 13

SALEM, Ore. -- The Legislature's majority Republicans pushed redistricting plans through the House and Senate on Tuesday despite Democratic warnings that the bills will die unless compromises are forged.

Democratic Gov. John Kitzhaber has said he won't sign measures that lack bipartisan support, and Democrats argue that the plans are tilted toward favoring the GOP.

In the Senate, lawmakers passed on a 16-12 straight-party vote a plan for redrawing Oregon's five congressional district lines to reflect population shifts shown in last year's federal Census.

In the House, lawmakers also voted on strict party lines, 31-27, to gave final approval to state House and Senate redistricting maps that were tentatively endorsed on Monday.

If lawmakers and the governor don't agree on a legislative district plan by June 30, the state constitution requires that the task go to Secretary of State Bill Bradbury, a Democrat.

There's no specific deadline for a congressional plan; legislative failure would send that issue to federal court.

The big sticking point in adjusting congressional districts is in the Portland area -- and especially the 1st District, represented by Democratic Rep. David Wu.

Republicans want to shift the part of Portland west of the Willamette River out of the 1st District and into the 3rd District, which takes in the rest of Democrat-heavy Portland. The district is represented by Rep. Earl Blumenauer.

Northwest Oregon's 1st District, which now has a slight Democratic edge, would extend farther into northern Clackamas County, where Republicans are strong.

Among other things, the move would put Wu's residence out of the 1st District, a symbolic blow since members of Congress don't have to live in their districts.

All of Portland should be in one congressional district, said Rep. Perry Atkinson, R-Jacksonville, arguing for the GOP plan.

The Willamette River "should be a unifying factor, not a dividing point," he said.

But Sen. Peter Courtney, D-Salem, said local government boundaries are not highly important to residents in the state's biggest metropolitan area.

"The Portland area sees itself as a region," he said.

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