May 07, 2011 12:19 AM UTC

Can Hickenlooper Save "Kumbaya?"

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• by: Colorado Pols

With the GOP-controlled House and Democratic-held Senate going their separate ways on competing “compromise” congressional redistricting maps, FOX 31’s Eli Stokols reports:

With neither side happy with the other’s latest maps, Republicans are planning to pass their map in the GOP-controlled House while Democrats pass theirs in the Senate where they have the majority.

Both sides know it’s a total charade — that both bills, as they’re written now, will be killed when they move to the opposite chamber.

Enter Hickenlooper, who some folks have been urging to either take sides or play peacemaker in this inherently partisan process…

“Even though the clock is ticking, there ought to be room for compromise and agreement before the legislative session ends. It is the right thing to do for the people of Colorado.”

Both map bills passed their respective committees yesterday, but each looks certain to quickly die in the opposing chamber as soon as they arrive–despite the fact that the sides are, at least superficially, closer now than they have been at any point. What we hear suggests that Hickenlooper would genuinely prefer for the two sides to reach a compromise, and is pushing harder than one would expect if he is as resigned to failure as most observers.

Hickenlooper has reaffirmed his support for competitive districts in recent interviews, a central Democratic principle. But he’s also aware, like Republicans, that legislative failure and a judicial remedy could well result in a better map for Democrats than a legislative compromise might yield. That fact, which has been the case from the outset, may yet give Republicans an incentive to come back to the table before session’s end. If Hickenlooper really can make the proverbial lion lay down with the lamb as advertised, it’s tough to imagine a better way to prove it.

We’ll update through the weekend with any new developments.