Gov. Martin O’Malley, Democrat, signed emergency legislation today creating new districts for congressional elections.
The map was crafted by a five-member, governor-appointed panel and based on the 2010 census. The governor submitted the map the the Democrat-controlled General Assembly prior to its convening this week for a special session on the issue.
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The state’s Senate, then House overwhelming passed the legislation along party lines, amid criticism the map slighted minority voters by splitting their districts and reworked GOP Rep. Roscoe Bartlett’s 6th District to give Democrats a better shot at defeating him in 2012. The 85-year-old Bartlett is seeking an 11th term.
The O’Malley administration also used the session to advance support for a job-creation plan and to urge the Assembly during its upcoming, regular session to consider a gasoline-tax increase and other revenue increases to fund transportation projects.
“To the people of Maryland, thank you for your voice, your input and your suggestions, and to all of the members of the General Assembly, thank you for giving fair, open and timely consideration and ultimately approval, to the recommendation of the committee,” Mr. O’malley said. “Over the course of Special Session, we were able to have vital and meaningful discussions about job creation and the importance of addressing our state’s infrastructure deficit as we prepare for the 2012 legislative session. Together, we can move forward on creating jobs for our families, recognizing that the most important job we create is the next one.”
