(Video) Rest: Redistricting Plan Lacks Bipartisan Principles

Golden Valley's Sen. Ann Rest (DFL - 45) responded to a question about the Democrat redistricting plan this week by criticizing Republicans for a lack of principles when creating the proposed legislative map for this decade.

“Before you have a plan you have principles that you adopt that direct the plan. We don’t have any principles. No, we do not have a map that speaks to no principles …” said Rest.  “We are not going to offer a plan that is bereft of principles. We are not going to do it.”

Rests comments come on the tail of a heated debate in the legislature. Though overshadowed by the budget, redistricting is another controversial issue that may cause a legislative deadlock as the session closes.

Each state is mandated to recalculate its legislative districts following the census. Given that populations move, grow and shrink, the idea behind the mandate is continuously represent the population of the state accurately. In essence, it’s trying to keep the spirit of one person, one vote alive.

Why it becomes contentious is because if areas have had a population loss, or even a slower population growth than other areas, the legislators in that area are forced to combine districts. This leaves few choices for those lawmakers including running against each other, retiring, or moving. Democrats, now in the minority, stand to lose seats to combined districts.

Rest, and her peers are asking questions about the principles that the Republicans used to put a plan together and are insisting that it be non partisan.

“We suggested in our letter … “ said Rest, “that we ask the academics, the people that study elections and redistricting principles and so on, not partisan people,  … that they look at the principles and priorities o our principles and let us know that if you adopt these principles you have a good chance of working together to come up with a plan that can be bipartisan and can speak to integrity and fairness in the system and gain the signature of the governor.”

Dayton is expected to veto the current plan.

Editor's Note: Golden Valley Patch regularly reports on the actions and votes our local representatives and senators are taking at the State Capitol.  Our videos are provided in partnership with The UpTake.