Sununu’s congressional redistricting map gets a hearing, but scant consideration

Gov. Chris Sununu’s proposed map for New Hampshire’s two Congressional districts acquired a public airing, however scant help, throughout its public listening to earlier than the Home’s Redistricting Committee Friday.

“I consider we are able to do higher,” Home Redistricting Committee chair Barbara Griffin advised colleagues whereas presenting Sununu’s map.

Griffin offered Sununu’s proposal to the committee, however advised colleagues she’d by no means mentioned it with him, nor ever spoken with the Governor about redistricting.

“I considered it as my obligation to the state to proceed the method to work on the map and I thank the governor’s workplace for offering me with a district map that I may use,” Griffin mentioned.

Sununu selected to not attend the listening to or ship a staffer to elucidate his map. His proposal does make some important modifications to the present maps, however the modifications have been much less dramatic than what Republicans proposed.

“There appears to be this obsession with preserving issues the best way they’re,” Rep. Ross Berry of Manchester mentioned.

No Republican indicated a willingness to again Sununu’s proposal, however a number of folks testified they most well-liked it to the Republican-crafted map Sununu promised to veto.

“It is a huge enchancment from the earlier plan,” mentioned Rep. Timothy Horrigan of Durham, a Democrat.

However committee members from each events appeared to see Sununu’s map as largely a solution to restart dialogue over congressional redistricting.

If lawmakers and Sununu fail to succeed in settlement on district traces, New Hampshire’s Supreme Courtroom may impose a map.

“I wish to get one thing else out of this committee by subsequent week,” Griffin advised colleagues on the listening to’s shut.