Nebraska lawmakers skeptical about redistricting reform

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers will probably draw their own legislative and congressional districts next year despite numerous attempts to adopt a less partisan approach used by states such as neighboring Iowa.

Senators have repeatedly rejected efforts to create an independent commission to spearhead the once-a-decade ritual, which starts anew in 2021. Even a watered-down proposal designed to minimize the role of partisanship faces an uncertain future when it goes before a legislative committee on Wednesday.

“It's important that we all get together and try to reduce some of the partisanship,” said Sen. John McCollister, an Omaha Republican who introduced the latest bill and who frequently works with Democrats.

Nebraska's one-house Legislature is ostensibly nonpartisan but dominated by Republicans, who hold 30 of its 49 seats. They enjoyed an even larger majority during the last redistricting in 2011, when they approved new districts over furious objections from Democrats who accused them of gerrymandering Omaha's 2nd Congressional District, one of the few places where Democrats are competitive.

The unusually bitter struggle led some lawmakers to believe they needed to tweak the process, but nothing has changed so far.

McCollister said proposals to create an independent redistricting commission are “a nonstarter” for lawmakers, and Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts remains opposed as well.

Ricketts spokesman Taylor Gage said the governor “has made it clear that redistricting is a specific and clear duty of elected legislators. He would oppose any effort to delegate that important duty outside of the Legislature.”

McCollister said he doesn’t think Republicans in the majority are willing to surrender any of their power to an independent commission....