Political battles ensue as Wisconsin lawmakers seek out a way to eliminate one of the state’s congressional seats.
Wisconsin’s nine U.S. House seats are being cut to eight this year, since the 2000 census revealed the state’s population growth was lagging behind that of other states.
Under the most accepted current proposal, Milwaukee would lose one congressional seat, a plan some say would jeopardize the city’s fair representation.
The disagreement could end in the courts instead of in the hands of state lawmakers because a bipartisan agreement is unlikely. If legislators cannot negotiate a compromise, or at least show progress by Feb. 1, redistricting will be in the hands of the judicial branch. Also, Milwaukee residents and politicians have threatened to sue for fair representation, since it is likely that the seat will be carved from Milwaukee County.
Under a plan introduced by Rep. Bonnie Ladwig, R-Mount Pleasant, and Rep. Greg Huber, D-Wausau, which eliminates one congressional seat from Milwaukee, Milwaukee County would be spliced into three districts, combining the North and South sides of the city.
District 5, represented by U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett, D-Wisc., would be merged with District 4, which is represented by U.S. Rep. Jerry Kleczka, D-Wisc. Because Barrett is running for governor, some favor this plan, which would avoid merging two districts and also prevent pitting incumbent representatives against each other.
The plan was drawn at the request of U.S. Rep. David Obey, D-Wisc., and James Sensenbrenner, R-Wisc. This plan was approved by a legislative committee last week and is favored by all nine of Wisconsin’s incumbent members of the U.S. House of Representatives.
State Senate President Fred Risser, D-Madison, said Congress is supportive of the plan and, because of this, the state legislature may also stand behind it.
A group of African-American elected officials oppose the plan and are pushing for the maintenance of two congressional districts in Milwaukee. They plan to introduce a separate map this week.
State Rep. Annette “Polly” Williams, D-Milwaukee, said taking a seat from Milwaukee is not in the best interest of citizens because it is such a populous area. Williams also said the proposal is racist because minority representation may be jeopardized. She plans to introduce an alternate map allowing the city to keep two districts. Williams is one of six African-American state legislators who are opposed to the plan.
State Rep. Spencer Black, D-Madison, agrees that while the more popular plan is not in the best interest of Milwaukee residents, Williams’ map is not likely to pass.
“Milwaukee has always had two seats in Congress,” Black said. “Milwaukee may not have the population to have two seats, but the urban area and southeast Milwaukee do.”
Ladwig said this plan is not racist and it would maximize Milwaukee’s minority voting strength.
Risser agreed that the plan is not racist, and that policies entrenched in Congress would prevent implementation of a racist policy.
“There are certain constitutional constraints outlined by the Supreme Court that would prevent this,” Risser said.
“But Congresspeople feel it meets the constitutionality test,” he said.
If the alternate proposal is rejected, the group has vowed to take the case to court to keep two districts in Milwaukee. The African American Coalition for Empowerment also plans to sue if Milwaukee loses a seat.
Risser said there is a very good chance that battles over redistricting would end with the courts making the final decision.
State legislative and national congressional boundaries are drawn every 10 years after the census to reflect shifts in the state’s population.
No state legislative seats will be lost, but legislative boundaries will be shifted to keep the districts equally populated.
In November, a panel of federal judges said lawmakers must be able to show progress by Feb. 1 or risk having courts draw new boundaries.