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Mass. Senate OKs Congressional Redistricting Map

[asset]2011/wbur_1108_ma-redistricting/[/asset]
Interactive map by Jesse Costa/WBUR; data from the state
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Senate has approved a new congressional redistricting map that eliminates one of the state's 10 seats in the U.S. House and creates the state's first district where blacks, Latinos and Asian-Americans are a majority of voters.

The 31-to-6 vote comes a day after the House approved the map.

Lawmakers rejected a series of amendments, including an alternative map offered by Republicans that called for shifting some communities between redrawn districts in the central and western parts of the state.

Some lawmakers objected to the decision to split some communities.

The redistricting plan was drawn up by a legislative committee after population shifts measured by the 2010 census forced the state to shed one of its 10 seats beginning with the next Congress.

A final vote is needed in each chamber.

This program aired on November 16, 2011. The audio for this program is not available.

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