Mondale Pushes New Approach To Minn. Redistricting
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- Former Vice President Walter Mondale and other seasoned politicians are asking Minnesota lawmakers to give up their power to redraw political boundaries and let retired judges do it instead.
State legislators and members of Congress will run in newly drawn districts next year.
The redistricting proposal backed by Mondale is getting little interest in the Republican-run Legislature this year.
House Redistricting Committee Chairwoman Sarah Anderson says the Legislature has a constitutional responsibility to do redistricting.
Mondale says the plan would remove much of the partisanship from the once-a-decade process, which has landed in court for the past four decades.
The Democrat appeared Tuesday with former House Speaker Steve Sviggum (SWIG'-uhm), a Republican; former Senate Majority Leader Roger Moe, a Democrat; and former U.S. Rep. Tim Penny of the Independence Party.
Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton says he supports the principle of an independent commission for redistricting.
(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
