Tallian emphasizes merits of implementing independent legislative redistricting commission
The Census Data Advisory Committee met Friday, September 17 at the Statehouse to begin its review of plans to redraw legislative and congressional districts. According to committee member State Senator Karen Tallian (D-Portage), following the release of newly-accumulated U.S. census data every 10 years, each state must redraw state and federal election districts based on population trends. Members of the Indiana General Assembly are charged by statute to create new districts during the 2011 legislative session.
Several plans to change the way redistricting is conducted in Indiana were reviewed including Senate Bills 289 and 136. Both bills were considered during the last legislative session. SB 289 would immediately create an independent redistricting commission in Indiana to advise the General Assembly on legislative redistricting matters. The General Assembly would vote on the recommended maps drawn by the commission. Similar legislation has been introduced numerous times in the past, but failed to pass. SB 136 includes the creation of a legislative committee to study redistricting proposals, including an amendment to the state constitution calling for the creation of an independent redistricting commission.
“Timing is the major difference with these two proposals. SB 289 lets us move forward with a bi-partisan commission that could begin work now and make recommendations to the next General Assembly. However, SB 136 calls for amending our state constitution, which is a long process. This approach would not affect redistricting until it’s done again in 2021,” Tallian explained.
“In addition, at least 21 states have already established various independent redistricting commissions. The public seems to like the idea of removing politics from this process, and getting redistricting accomplished fairly for each legislative district before the next election cycle and without a constitutional change,” Tallian said.
The committee also received a census bureau update from the Office of Census Data within the Legislative Services Agency on the estimated population projections for Indiana. The state will officially be notified of entire population data by the end of the year. This data will be used to determine the number of Congressional seats held by Indiana. Initial projections indicate that Indiana will maintain nine Congressional seats. All census data including geographic and demographic information will be provided to the General Assembly no later than April 1, 2011.
Tallian represents Indiana Senate District 4, which includes portions of Porter County and Lake County, including Merrillville and Crown Point. She is the Ranking Minority Member of the Senate Pensions and Labor Committee. She also serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senate Energy and Environment Affairs Committee, and the State Budget Committee.
For more information on Sen. Tallian or updates on Senate activities visit www.senatedemocrats.in.gov