The Hill News

A pair of Democrats plan bills that would reform the congressional redistricting process, possibly by taking that power out of state lawmakers' hands.

Reps. Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.) and Heath Shuler (D-N.C.) said they'll introduce legislation to bring reforms to the decennial redistricting that states will embark over the next two years, following the 2010 Census results.

Cooper's bill would require public input on redistricting plans, while Shuler's bill would mandate that redistricting be handled by bipartisan state commissions, according to a report by the Knoxville News.

Thirteen states already use the commissions, and several more use them in an advisory or backup role. In most other states, the task of redistricting falls ! to state lawmakers, where the majority party typically redraws districts to favor its members.

Many of the shifts in apportionment due to the Census benefit states with legislatures and governorships controlled or dominated by Republicans. The bipartisan commissions would presumably lead to less political outcomes in the redistricting process.

Shuler and Cooper are taking up the mantle of former Rep. John Tanner (D-Tenn.), who favored similar reforms before leaving Congress last year.