Governor Evers Proposes non-partisan maps in state budget

Today Governor Evers proposed a non-partisan solution to gerrymandering in the state, which will be included in the governor's budget which will be released Thursday.

This proposal would put drawing of legislative maps into the hands of a non-partisan commission of state employees at the Legislative Research Bureau. Members of the commission would be selected by the legislative leaders of both parties, and the chair would also be selected by a decision of the four legislative leaders. 

The current legislative map process was found to violate the rights of Democrats in the state as the boundaries drawn in 2016 were politically motivated. The case went to the US Supreme court, which found that the plaintiffs in the case did not have legal standing. The case was sent back to the lower court, which will start new proceedings in June. 

Republican leaders have had no response thus far but since the state is currently defending the current law in court it would seem unlikely that the Republicans will let this provision in the budget pass unscathed.