State Republicans on Wednesday rejected Gov. Brian Kemp's call to consider redrawing the state's district maps. File Photo by Chris Kleponis/UPI | License Photo
June 17 (UPI) -- Georgia Republicans on Wednesday rejected GOP efforts to redraw the state's congressional and legislative maps amid a wider national push to redraw congressional maps.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, a Republican, had last month scheduled the special session for Wednesday to consider redrawing the state's maps in response to pressure to do so following the Supreme Court's April ruling that weakened Voting Rights Act protections for district lines drawn to preserve minority voting power.
The state's House speaker, Jon Burns, said in a letter Wednesday to Kemp that Georgia's House and Senate Republicans would not take up his redistricting call, citing more pressing cost-of-living issues and cases pending in court that could affect any alterations they adopt to their maps.
"Changes to Georgia's maps should take place only when members of the General Assembly and citizens have been given ample opportunity to gather the facts, provide input and engage in meaningful discussion," Burns said in the letter.
