Representative Peter Cownie, a Republican from West Des Moines, opened the debate on the redistricting plan. “We had a redistricting process that the legislature should be proud of, but most importantly, Iowans should be proud of as well.” Cownie said.
Cownie talked about the way other states draft their maps. “The state of Iowa does it better.” Cownie said, of redistricting.
In a show of bipartisanship, Representative Vicki Lensing, a Democrat from Iowa City, was recognized to give opening remarks on the plan as well. “It is truly a system of honety, fairness and integrity,” she said of Iowa’s redistricting process.
A corrective amendment was adopted, correcting a few typos in the bill. Not a single legislator spoke against the plan. At Cownie’s prompting, the House applauded Ed Cook, the Legislative Services Agency staffer who was in charge of the project. He praised the bi-partisan commission which held the four public hearings on the plan.
“I urge the body to support HF 682,” Cownie said after those brief thanks. The bill passed at 8:52 a.m. 90 to 7 vote.
Debate audio 11 min
About O.Kay Henderson
Kay is a founding member of the Radio Iowa network newsroom. In 1994, she became the network’s news director. She’s a featured reporter and commentator on Iowa Public Television’s “Iowa Press,” and the 2002 recipient of the Shelley Award.
Recent Comments