Wisconsin has a bottom-up methodology for redistricting. First municipalities and counties set the wards, and then wards are later (after August) combined to form legislative districts.
But August is after the recalls. And the republicans have used state money to hire outside consultants to draw districts out of the public eye.
Next Tuesday, the Legislature will be called into Extraordinary Session to expedite redistricting before the wards are drawn. Why an Extraordinary Session? Because the rules are designed for emergency legislation - the minority is essentially powerless to protest.
Of course, this is going to be a mess. The wards aren't drawn yet, so some wards will overlap districts. They'll not only have to change the redistricting, but they'll first have to change the laws which govern redistricting in Wisconsin.
Does their internal polling and fundraising tell them that they're going down? Why do this now?
You've all done a wonderful job in helping us. Now we have to ask again. Please consider donating to the recall candidates here.
Edit 2:08 CDT - h/t to Naranjadia - this Journal Sentinel story came out while I was composing the diary.
Walker brothers press release
MADISON, WI… This afternoon, Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald (R‐Horicon) and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R‐Juneau) unveiled new proposals to redraw the state’s legislative district maps. Wisconsin gained more than 300,000 residents since 2000, and the state Constitution requires new maps after every Census. The Fitzgeralds released the following statement:
“Republicans have been keeping our promises and getting the job done since Day One. We started with jobs bills to improve the economy; we balanced the budget on time and turned a deficit into a surplus; and now we’re fulfilling our constitutional requirement to properly reapportion the state’s legislative and congressional districts.”
The maps themselves may be found at The Wheeler Report Others who are more geeky than I - and there aren't many! ;-) - can maybe help us make some sense of these maps and the implications.
Senate districts:
Assembly districts: