Lawmaker Issues Statement on Unheard Redistricting Legislation

OKLAHOMA CITY – State Rep. Andy Fugate, D-Del City, released the following statement today after legislation he filed was left unheard in the House Redistricting Committee. The refusal to hear the legislation most likely means the bill won’t be heard during the current special session.

House Joint Resolution 1001, by Fugate, creates an independent redistricting committee and prohibits anyone with a financial or political interest – lawmakers, lobbyists, their families – from serving on the committee. It also adds independent voters to the process for the first time.

“It’s disappointing that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle refused to even hear the proposed legislation,” Fugate said. “Are we so afraid of bold ideas that we choose to omit them from discussion and debate? Instead of drawing districts to better serve communities, our current redistricting process allows politicians to choose the communities they serve.

“The same redistricting game has been played every ten years since statehood. The party in charge tries its best to draw districts to help them stay in power. It’s time to stop a century of politicians picking their voters. In our country, voters get to pick their politicians.”