Veteran congresswoman says gerrymandering hurts America

CINCINNATI (AP) — The longest-serving woman in U.S. House history blames partisan gerrymandering for making "a mess" of Congress and hurting America.

Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur of Toledo, Ohio, testified Wednesday in the final day of testimony about a federal lawsuit challenging Ohio's congressional map as unconstitutional.

The 19th-term congresswoman expressed outrage in her video appearance over the Republican-controlled redrawing of her 9th district ahead of the 2012 elections. The remap forced a primary battle she won over fellow Rep. Dennis Kucinich (koo-SIN'-ich) of Cleveland.

Republicans note each side lost one seat in the remap after of U.S. population shifts.

Kaptur says gerrymandering has made House members less responsive or willing to compromise.

The redrawn Ohio districts have held steady at 12 Republicans, four Democrats.

A three-judge panel heard testimony beginning March 4.