House defeats all proposed amendments to redistricting INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indiana lawmakers returned to the House Thursday with more questions, concerns, and proposed changes. Democrats filed 21 amendments, while Republicans defended how the lines were drawn. On second reading, House lawmakers revisited the proposed congressional redistricting map, one that divides Marion County into four districts. Republican state Rep. Ben Smaltz, of Auburn, introduced the bill to redistrict Indiana’s congressional districts mid-decade and emphasized the map reflects political performance. “I will be happy to talk about the things that we should, in my opinion, pay attention to in the coming session that, just because we’re redistricting right now, we’re not still concerned about property taxes, healthcare costs and transparency, utility costs, childcare, Pre-K affordability, language I’m working on right now,” Smaltz said. Democrats argued the amendments would reconnect comminutes they say would be separate and strengthen minority voting power. Several amendments focused on the affordability crises, allowing Hoosiers to review and give feedback on maps, and how the redrawing of the maps would affect voting. State Rep. Carolyn Jackson, who represents Hammond in the Indiana General Assembly, doesn’t feel like the public are being heard. “I personally attended the congressional hearings in my district,” said Rep. Jackson, D-Hammond. “There was standing room only. People are concerned about the city, the county, the county in which they live in.” Smaltz insisted that House Bill 1032 was crafted to go along with the rules of other bills and followed the principals of the constitution. He believes the process has been fair and transparent to the public, so far. “This is the same process that hundreds of bills go through every year,” Smaltz said. “It’s going to go across the hall to the Senate, where there will be three readings of this bill. One where the public will have the opportunity to weigh in and share their opinion.” None of the amendments passed. The bill will move to a third reading and house vote Friday. ...read more read less