Democratic gerrymandering may turn tide (MT House) | Great Falls Tribune [View All]

[Ediacara]

Democratic gerrymandering may turn tide

By MIKE DENNISON
Tribune Capitol Bureau

HELENA -- If you're not a serious political junkie, you might have found yourself wondering last week: Why the incredible fuss over Montana's new legislative district boundaries?

Why do we hear Republicans, firmly in control of Montana politics for a decade, complaining bitterly of "blatant, raw, naked politics" and "criminal" behavior by the folks who redrew the boundaries?

Why? Because they know these boundaries matter when it comes to controlling politics.

This time, Montana Republicans came out on the short end of the political stick, and they're understandably ticked off.

Will they end up losing control in Montana because of it?

At best, they'll probably see their margin of majority narrowed in the 2005 Legislature. At worst, they'll be the minority in the Montana House, Senate, or both.

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What they don't tell you in this snippet is that the new legislative districts were drawn by a bipartisan commission, and that the previous boundries were skewed heavily Republican. Boo-hoo-hoo!!!