Republicans Decry House Democrats’ Plan To Rush Redistricting Bill Through During Major Snowstorm

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – House Republicans today decried the Democratic majority’s plan to rush a hyper-partisan Congressional redistricting bill through when a significant winter storm is headed for Maryland.

Members have been advised that the bill containing the new congressional maps, which was just filed on Friday, January 23^rd, will be heard and voted on in the House Rules Committee on Monday, January 26^th. 

A potentially hazardous winter storm is expected to arrive in Maryland over the weekend, and forecasters are predicting significant snowfall as well as freezing rain and ice through Monday. Governor Moore currently has Maryland in a “State of Preparedness”, and a State of Emergency declaration is possible due to the incoming weather.

“It is disappointing, and frankly unfair, that the House will be shoving this legislation on an accelerated timeline that provides no real opportunity for public input,” said House Minority Leader Jason Buckel. “It is a further disservice to Marylanders when they plan to do so in the middle of a major winter storm, where many legislators and members of the public may be unable to get to Annapolis, or could be without power or internet service to join virtually. Moving this bill through so quickly in the middle of a giant weather event is a clear message that the Democratic majority has no interest in what the people think.”

“It is striking that, with all of the challenges Maryland is facing, the first vote the House will be taking this year is on a grossly partisan redistricting bill that will strip fair representation from millions of Marylanders,” said House Minority Whip Jesse Pippy. “People are struggling to pay their electricity bills, we have a giant budget hole to fix, children have been abused and have even died in state custody – that this bill is what is on the fast track is, quite honestly, just outrageous.”