House Democratic Leader David Toscano comments following the first day of the special session on redistricting called by Governor Northam.
“Given the Republicans’ lack of action today and over the past several months, it is clear we are at an impasse.
“In the 64 days since a court declared 11 districts to be an unconstitutional racial gerrymander, Republicans have proposed no remedies. Despite requests to Speaker Cox from myself, and a request from the court that action be shown, Republicans have failed to show any movement.
“Thanks to the decision by Governor Northam, we now have a special session. Thanks to the actions of House Democrats, including Del. Lamont Bagby and others, we now have a bill that we believe fixes the constitutional problems with the map.
“Today, Republicans had yet another opportunity to propose a map. They did not.
“Today, Republicans had an opportunity to submit amendments to our proposal. They did not.
“They also had an oppportunity to schedule public hearings and set a day to reconvene. Again, they did not.
“The Republicans’ cross-examination today was a thinly-veiled attempt to protect at all costs their seats held by politically motivated racial gerrymandering. At the end of the day, we still have an unconstitutional map and no remedies from Republicans.”
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