Gov. Evers vows to veto GOP changes to his redistricting map

 

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Gov. Tony Evers has vowed to veto a revised version of his legislative maps that would reduce the number of Republicans incumbents who would have to run against one another this fall.

Assembly Republicans approved the bill a day after Senate Republicans passed the measure.

The bill includes changes to avoid placing GOP incumbents in the same district and pitting them against each other.

The modifications were added by Republicans in hopes of preventing the state Supreme Court from picking new legislative boundaries that could be more beneficial to Democrats.

Evers posted on X he'd veto the proposal which means the issue will remain in the hands of the state's high court.

“Moving legislative district lines so GOP-gerrymandered incumbents get to keep their seats is just more gerrymandering," Evers said.

During debate on the bill, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos defended the proposal by arguing they are "trying to make the maps more fair," and said the changes largely align with Evers maps.

"Our changes actually disenfranchise fewer people than the governor's map because we reunited a couple of the legislators with their communities," Vos said. "All we've really done is make small changes."

On Tuesday, Vos said "he'd be happy" to pass Evers maps but his caucus ultimately took up a version the Senate approved with some tweaks.

Democrats called it a last-ditch effort by Republicans to cling onto power.

"The map in front of us was changed to specifically protect Republican incumbents," said Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer. "This is wrong. And it puts politicians' careers over the people."

The move comes about two weeks before consultants will submit a report on Feb. 1 analyzing a series of map submissions to the court.

Last month, the court ruled the current legislative maps are unconstitutional.