AUGUSTA — The Appropriations Committee room is packed today with members of the public who want to testify on Republican and Democratic redistricting proposals.
Republicans continued to back a plan that significantly changes the current configuration by changing the district of more than 300,000 Mainers. It moves the midcoast to the 2nd District and puts Oxford County, Androscoggin County and portions of Franklin County in the 1st.
It would put North Haven, the hometown of Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree, who represents the 1st District, into the 2nd District. That change likely wouldn’t affect the re-election prospects for Pingree, who also owns a home in Portland. A U.S. representative is not legally obligated to live in the district he or she represents.
Sen. Debra Plowman, R-Hampden, said the court ruling that requires redistricting does not require the state to continue to stick to the way districts have been traditionally drawn.
“We put forth a plan and we stand behind the plan,” she said.
The 15-member Reapportionment Committee must find a way to even out the population of the state’s congressional districts, which amounts to adding about 4,000 people to the 2nd District, according to the 2010 U.S. Census.
Democrats put forward two plans. One moves Vassalboro from the 1st to the 2nd District and another moves seven towns to try to even out the populations in each district, said Sen. Seth Goodall, D-Richmond.
Members of the public are expected to testify throughout the morning on the plans.
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