Georgia lawmakers will begin a special session Monday, tasked with redrawing the state's political maps, but a few other items are also on their agenda.
Starting at 10 a.m., when Republican House Speaker David Ralston is expected to bring the session into order, lawmakers are likely to spend the next few weeks clashing and -- possibly -- compromising on what communities they should represent. The first significant discussion in that debate will happen Tuesday, when the House redistricting committee meets for the first time.
The Senate, too, begins at 10 a.m. Monday, although by late Friday its redistricting committee had yet to schedule its first meeting.
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 as a minor change in district lines has the potential to sway an election.
It is equally important to voters because it can increase their community’s influence or decrease it, depending how the lines are drawn. Public drafts of proposed legislative districts were released only Friday, angering Democratic leaders who stand to lose influence and worry it will dilute their communities' overall voting strength.
It is a charge denied by Republicans, who are the majority party in both chambers of the Legislature and also control the governor's office.
The agenda for the session otherwise will be strictly controlled by Gov. Nathan Deal -- although a few surprises may arise.
Deal will ask lawmakers to consider changing the date of regional transportation referendums to be put before voters next year.
The referendums, which would add a 1-cent sales tax to pay for transportation projects, could be moved from the July 31 primary ballot to the Nov. 6 general election in 2012. It's a move that would likely bring out more voters and perhaps work in favor of the referendum in metro Atlanta.
Lawmakers will also be asked during the session to formally approve Deal's decision this summer to summarily suspend an increase in Georgia's gas tax.
Otherwise, Deal said last week that lawmakers would be allowed to consider local legislation only "of an urgent nature." It is not clear what issues could rise to that criteria, although Deal said he did not expect a large docket. No floor votes can be taken on bills that are not part of the announced agenda.
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