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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 28, 2010 |
CONTACT: (505) 216-6342 |
Democrats Kill Gardner’s
Bi-Partisan Redistricting Commission
Santa Fe – Today House Joint Resolution 15 which proposed to add a bipartisan redistricting committee to determine congressional and state legislative boundaries was indefinitely delayed by a House Voters and Elections Committee vote of seven to five. No Republicans voted to delay the bill. HJR 15 was authored by Keith Gardner, Republican Whip and Rep. for District 66 (Chaves, Eddy, Lea, Roosevelt).
“This is a sad day for democracy in New Mexico,” said Rep. Gardner. “Democrats in the legislature have sent a message that Democrat controlled redistricting is all but assured. Our hopes for an impartial, bi-partisan process are extinguished.”
Had HJR 15 passed, it would have placed an option for the establishment of a bi-partisan commission on the next general election ballot, allowing the voters of New Mexico the opportunity to say how they wanted re-districting carried out. By not enacting this bill, the Democrat controlled legislature will continue to determine congressional and state legislative districts.
“Rather than spending millions of dollars on litigation and court costs, this commission would have saved New Mexico taxpayers time and money,” said Gardner. “Democrats have ruled New Mexico for more than 70 years. At this point it is difficult to tell whether those votes are earned, or whether they are affects of heavy-handed, biased redistricting in their favor.”
The Democrats who voted to kill the bi-partisan redistricting commission are listed below.
Rep. Jose A. Campos, District 63
Rep. Mary Helen Garcia, District 34
Rep. James Roger Madalena, District 65
Rep. Ken Martinez, District 69
Rep. Danice R. Picraux, District 25
Rep. Debbie A. Rodella, District 41
Rep. Edward C. Sandoval, District 14
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HJR 15
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