Critics came out Wednesday to share their frustrations with newly proposed Congressional maps. A committee of House and Senate lawmakers is considering several maps ahead of a November 30 deadline.
Though state lawmakers are supposed to be creating Ohio’s Congressional map, with one less district, a newly formed six-member committee of lawmakers has now been tasked with discussing it.
Four maps have been submitted by House Democrats, House Republicans, Senate Republicans and Senate Democrats.
People who offered comments at the meeting said they had had little notice that the committee would take testimony, and several complained about a lack of transparency and access to information about the Republican-led process.
Michael Ahern of Columbus has testified on redistricting before, and asked joint committee chair Sen. Teresa Gavarone(R-Bowling Green) about the five-minute time limit set for speakers.
The next and perhaps last joint committee hearing is Friday. People who want to testify need to submit witness slips and written testimony by Thursday at 10:30 a,m. Information is at the joint redistricting committee's website.
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