State lawmakers are off to Baton Rouge to begin the 20-day special legislative session for redistricting Louisiana. The House & Senate must agree on new boundaries for the legislature, Public Service Commission, state courts and six U.S. Congressional seats. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says he believes the latter – U.S. House districts – will be addressed right up front.
“I think the legislature has PROBABLY, at this point in time, decided ‘let’s do that first.’ Why? because there’s no agreement on it, and if the Governor vetoes it, they’d have time to override or NOT override a veto,” Pinsonat says.
The Governor and black leaders say the state needs to have a second majority minority district, and that is liable to be fuel for some disagreements within the Capitol. Pinsonat says better to get that settled early on, before moving on the more local matters; like redrawing in-state House & Senate boundaries.
A number of districts in areas surrounding cities like Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Lafayette are currently represented by African-American members, but those districts have lost population and will have to redrawn. Some members could lose their seats, because district lines have moved away from where they reside. Pinsonat says Redistricting is great political theater that only comes around every ten years.
“…and they’re always interesting. They’re always divisive and they always – eventually – comes to a peaceful ending because they have no other choice.”
The redistricting session ends on February 20th.
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