December 17, 2010 08:51 PM UTC

Kabuki or Kumbaya?

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• by: Colorado Pols

( – promoted by Colorado Pols)

Pardon our cynical title while the Pueblo Chieftain’s Patrick Malone reports:

Republican and Democratic leaders in the Colorado General Assembly on Thursday announced plans to seat a joint select committee that will guide the usually contentious process of redrawing congressional districts.

With Democrats controlling the Senate (20-15) and the governor’s office and Republicans holding a 33-32 majority in the House, the stage is set for gridlock in 2011, and among historically most divisive partisan issues to arise in the Legislature is redistricting of congressional seats and reapportionment of districts for the state Legislature…

During a briefing at the Denver Press Club to preview the upcoming legislative session, Senate President Brandon Shaffer, D-Longmont, House Speaker Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, Minority Leader Mike Kopp, R-Littleton, and Pace said keeping congressional redistricting out of court and creating competitive districts will be the commission’s top objective.

We’ve reprinted their joint press release below the fold. So, at the risk of throwing cold water on the hugging and clasping of hands around the campfire, there are really two possibilities here: that Republicans, in control of the state House but not much else, have decided to try a reasonable approach to see if they can get enough of what they want to be satisfied–and more than they might expect to get from the courts. The fact is, both sides may get better mutual accommodation for long-term political goals if they strike a deal out of court. There is also an argument that the protracted battle over redistricting a decade ago was just plain damaging to everyone with the voting public, and the cost/benefit of a repeat is enough to make it worth avoiding.

The other possibility is that both sides want to say they tried to play nice once the manure hits the inevitable fan, and this keeps up appearances in the meantime. Being eternal optimists, a poll follows–we don’t want to be the ones to declare this college try at bipartisanship a lost cause.

Leaders Launch Bipartisan Effort To Redraw Congressional Lines

DENVER- Today, Senate President Brandon Shaffer (D-Longmont) and House Speaker-designee Frank McNulty (R-Highlands Ranch) announced the creation of a joint legislative committee to redraw Colorado’s congressional lines. The creation of the Joint Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting is a bold, bipartisan step to bring fairness to what has in the past been a bitter partisan battle.

“We have a responsibility to serve the needs of the people of Colorado,” said President Shaffer. “Our work this session is far too important to be derailed by partisan distractions. This committee will help us fulfill our constitutional duty and allow the legislature to focus on the priorities of our constituents.”

“Colorado voters deserve a fair, open, and transparent process as House and Senate members look to redraw the lines of Colorado’s seven congressional districts,” Speaker-designee McNulty said. “Republicans and Democrats have taken a strong step in support of this process and we look forward to the good work of the committee and a generous amount of public input.”

The process of congressional redistricting, the drawing of legislative boundaries, and reapportionment, the reallotment of congressional seats, is mandated by both federal and state law and is a constitutionally mandated function of the legislature.

Nonpartisan Legislative Council staff will staff the Joint Select Committee and assist its members in analyzing the data from the Decennial Census. The Joint Select Committee will evaluate proposed maps, seek public feedback, and make recommendations to the General Assembly.  

The Joint Select Committee is being formed under Joint Rule 41. The committee will have 10 members: five Democrats and five Republicans. The Speaker-designee and Senate President will each appoint 3 members, and the House and Senate Minority Leaders will each appoint 2 members. Appointments to the Joint Select Committee will be announced soon. The letter officially creating the Joint Select Committee will be signed on January 12th.

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This is a joint release from the Colorado Senate Democrats and House Republicans.

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