Mass. Senate Nixes Independent Redistricting Panel

The Massachusetts Senate has voted against a Republican-led proposal to create an independent redistricting commission.

Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr said using an independent commission to help draw new legislative and congressional maps would restore public confidence in the process.

Sen. Stanley Rosenberg disagreed. The Amherst Democrat is leading the Senate redistricting effort and said there's no evidence that states with independent commissions draw better maps than those that rely on legislative committees.

The Senate voted 34-5 against the GOP plan, largely along party lines.

Secretary of State William Galvin and government watchdog groups have also pushed for an independent commission.

Massachusetts is losing a seat in the U.S. House, reducing the number of congressional districts from 10 to nine.

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