Signature needed

By The Daily Nonpareil

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In a legislative session marked more by rancor than accomplishments, the Iowa House and Senate overwhelmingly - and quickly - approved a legislative and congressional redistricting plan.

Redistricting was the first bill called up in the House in the morning of the first day lawmakers were eligible to vote on the plan. The Republican-controlled House took only a few minutes to approve the map on a 91-7 vote. The Democrat-controlled Senate quickly followed suit, swiftly approving House File 682 on a 48-1 vote and sending it to Gov. Terry Branstad for what will hopefully be his signature.

A special commission conducted hearings on the proposed new maps earlier this month, and the only objections came here in Council Bluffs, where some Republicans were unhappy they will no longer be in Rep. Steve King's western Iowa district, but instead will be part of a central and southwest Iowa district - Iowa's new 3rd Congressional District - currently represented by incumbent Democrat Congressman Leonard Boswell of Des Moines.

The map recently approved by legislators reduces Iowa's congressional districts from five to four and left Republican Reps. Steve King of Kiron and Tom Latham of Ames living in the newly created 4th Congressional District. That dynamic changed recently when Latham said he will move and run for election in 2012 in Iowa's new 3rd Congressional District.

Reps. Mark Brandenburg and Mary Ann Hanusa, both Republicans from Council Bluffs, were among the seven in the Iowa House who voted against the plan.

Brandenburg said constituents told him they were unhappy about being thrown into a district that includes Polk County and Des Moines, the state's largest population concentration.

Hanusa echoed that remark, commenting, “There are a lot of people who feel we won't have appropriate representation when we are in the same congressional district as Des Moines.”

While those concerns are understandable, reflecting the long-held opinion that the western border of Iowa coincides with the western border of Polk County, Latham's decision to move to this district and run against Boswell will give southwest Iowans countless opportunities to have their opinions heard during what promises to be a hard-fought campaign.

Iowa Senate President Jack Kibbie, D-Emmetsburg, noted that the new congressional districts have a population that varies by as little as 84 people, and Iowa is leading the way for drawing new district lines after the census.

We do not see southwest Iowa as being lost in that process, and we think Gov. Terry Branstad should waste no time in approving the new plan.