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--> --> Oregon's GOP tries new tactic for redistricting By Charles E. Beggs Associated Press Writer SALEM (AP) - Republicans ignited partisan warfare on Friday with a new redistricting tactic aimed at preventing their plan from being vetoed by Democratic Gov. John Kitzhaber. The House Rules Committee plugged the Republican-backed plan to redraw state legislative districts into a resolution, which would not go to the governor. The new measure now goes to the full House, over the minority Democrats' protests that the move is blatantly unconstitutional on grounds that resolutions can't be used to pass laws. Democrats said it's possible they would deprive the chambers of quorums needed to do business to block action on the GOP-backed measure. "It's among the options being discussed," said House Democratic Leader Dan Gardner of Portland. Two-thirds of House and Senate members, or 40 in the House and 20 in the Senate, have to be present for the chambers to act on measures. Republicans control the House by a 32-27 count and the Senate on a 16-14 tally. "This could blow up," said Sen. Peter Courtney of Salem, the Senate Democrats' key player on redistricting. "This is not fun and games. This could have effects, on the budget or other things." The Republican-backed plan has passed both houses over unanimous opposition by Democrats and gone to Kitzhaber, who has said he won't sign any plan that doesn't have bipartisan backing. Both sides say the other parties' plans favor those parties and have accused each other of unwillingness to negotiate. Republicans want to avoid having Secretary of State Bill Bradbury, a Democrat, draw new House and Senate district lines. The state constitution gives the job to him if a legislatively passed plan doesn't become law by June 30. "We have no other choice but to pursue every possible option," said Rep. Carl Wilson, R-Grants Pass. He said the state constitution is ambiguous about whether lawmakers can enact a plan by passing a resolution, instead of with a bill that is sent to the governor, and that the issue would end up in court. Gardner called the move "a desperate attempt into blackmailing us into capitulating on their demands." Any plan Bradbury would produce also would be subject to challenge, before the Oregon Supreme Court. Districts have to be reshaped following each 10-year federal Census to reflect population shifts, to meet one-person, one-vote requirements. The Friday development didn't affect a GOP-backed congressional redistricting plan that also has passed both houses. A veto of that plan would send the issue to federal court, not to Bradbury. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing