Panel tweaks congressional maps; governor signs House, Senate plans

By Kristina Torres and Aaron Gould Sheinin

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Georgia House could vote as soon as Thursday on a new congressional map for the state after a key committee approved minor changes Wednesday.

Gov. Nathan Deal, meanwhile, announced late Wednesday that he has signed into law new maps showing changes to state House and Senate district lines, pending Justice Department approval.

The tweaks came amid continued Democratic protests that Republicans, who control both chambers of the Legislature and the governor's office, were purposely diluting the power of minority voters. Among those objecting: U.S. Rep. John Lewis, whose 5th District stands to lose a portion of the city of Atlanta.

"Elimination of multiracial coalitions was not and has never been the goal of the Voting Rights Act," the Democrat told members of the House redistricting committee.

“Regardless of who should be in the White House, regardless of who should be in Congress, I do strongly believe our great capital city would be well-served” by having both Democratic and Republican representation, said Rep. Edward Lindsey, R-Atlanta. Drawing Lewis out of the city's affluent Buckhead area, where Lindsey lives, was “not in any way meant to be disrespectful to you. You’ve been a good advocate,” he told the civil rights icon.

Other changes approved by the committee included moving Moody Air Force Base near Valdosta back into the 1st Congressional District of U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston, a Savannah Republican. The original draft map had placed the base into the new 8th District of Republican Austin Scott of Tifton.

Also tweaked were the 11th and 6th Districts, represented by Republicans Phil Gingrey and Tom Price, respectively. The updated plan would give Gingrey more of Fulton County and Price more of Cobb County.

In southwest Georgia, changes were made to the 2nd District seat of Democratic U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop. The original plan split Muscogee County between Bishop's district and the 3rd District of Republican U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland. A split remains, but the line has shifted between the two districts.

Westmoreland's district also gained more of Fayette County while the 13th District seat of Democratic U.S. Rep. David Scott was moved farther into Henry County.

The congressional map, whose initial version was unveiled Monday, is the final piece of a redistricting process that started Aug. 15. Both chambers approved new state legislative maps earlier this week, sending them on to Deal.

The House is the first to tackle the congressional map, which will go before the House Rules Committee at 8:30 a.m. Thursday. The Rules Committee has the power to schedule a floor vote, and the full House is expected to be in session starting at 9 a..m.

The Senate redistricting committee on Wednesday canceled its meetings this week, preferring instead to let the House have the first go. Passage in the House would send the map to the Senate. Upon approval in the Senate, it would be sent to Deal for his signature.

Redistricting, or redrawing the state's legislative and congressional districts, happens at least once every 10 years after the release of data from the U.S. Census Bureau. It is hugely important to elected officials because a minor change in district lines can sway an election.

It also can increase or decrease a community's influence, depending how the lines are drawn.

The state is expected to submit all maps to the Department of Justice for preclearance by Oct. 1. Georgia is among nine states required by the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to get federal government approval to any change to voting or election law.

Deal, in a statement late Wednesday, said lawmakers' plans improved upon the process then-majority Democrats initiated 10 years ago.

"We have upheld our vow to keep communities together," Deal said. "House and Senate leaders held hearings across the state and worked individually with members of both parties. Both bodies produced maps that obey federal laws and honor the one-person-one-vote principle. The maps also pass the ‘optics test,’ meaning that a casual viewer could look at the districts and tell they make sense."