March 10, 2022 |
In the Wyoming Legislature, the 62/31 redistricting plan is not carved in stone said Senate members of the Joint Conference Committee working to find a compromise agreement between the competing versions of House Bill 100.
On Tuesday, the six-member committee agreed to consider proposals to the House version of the statewide redistricting plan that expands the legislature. Yesterday, the House took up micro changes to Natrona, Laramie, Johnson and Sheridan Counties. Another, much bigger, change would cause a ripple effect from Rock River in Albany County to westward to Lincoln, Sublette and Teton Counties. Senator Bill Landon explained the proposal.
The proposal to redraw southern and western Wyoming, which came from the Senate, could impact as many as 18 House districts. Some House members were sitting in on the meeting. Representative Chuck Grey of Casper said he did not see any compelling reason to redraw the maps at this late point in the process. Grey’s concerns were specific to proposed changes in Natrona County.
Representative Grey’s suggestion that the Senate members of the conference committee were waffling on the 60/30 plan brought several swift rebuttals. Senator Dave Kinsky of Sheridan County clarified how the Conference Committee is trying to resolve the differences between the House and Senate plans.
Landon was also sensitive to the suggestion that he and the other Senate members on the Conference Committee had folded early in the negotiation with the House.
No action was taken on any of the plans presented Wednesday. The committee asked LSO to draw the maps as proposed and for county clerks to review them for concerns. The Conference Committee will meet again today and negotiations will continue.
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