DENVER House Republicans introduced a new map of future Congressional districts Tuesday, setting battle lines in a highly partisan fight.
This is our best effort to put forward a map that incorporates everything that weve learned through this process, said Speaker of the House Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch. This is not a starting point for negotiation but rather an accurate reflection of what Colorados congressional districts should look like.
Democrats introduced a map last week that splits the Western Slope and creates a southern Colorado district that stretches from the Four Corners to Kansas.
Sen. Rollie Heath, D-Boulder, said Democrats drew their map to create districts that either party could win.
The GOP map keeps the Western Slope district mostly the same, said Rep. Don Coram, R-Montrose.
Its a map that changes things very little. It adds Lake and Chaffee counties, which are mountain counties, Coram said.
Heath said he would evaluate McNultys map.
Colorado voters deserve fair and competitive districts that dont create Congressmen and women for life, Heath said.
Republicans would enjoy a plurality of voters in four districts in their plan, as opposed to three under the Democratic plan.
The Republican map. House Bill 1319, will have a public hearing today at the Capitol.
Heath has not scheduled his bill for a hearing yet.
Im going to wait to see what happens, Heath said. If were going to turn it over to (House Republicans), theyre just going to defeat it, so theres no point.
Despite the rhetoric, the possibility of a compromise still exists.
House Minority Leader Sal Pace, D-Pueblo, refused to comment on either map, but he said his caucus is looking for a compromise plan.
Pace is a possible challenger to U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton, R-Cortez, but the Democratic map would make the race much more difficult for Pace.
Reach Joe Hanel at joeh@cortezjournal.com.