Georgia Re-redistricting — Did the GOP blink?

For a couple of weeks, it seemed Georgia Republicans were salivating at the idea of ramming a re-redistricting plan through the state legislature, effectively throwing a couple of moderate House Dems out of work. Now, however, the same gang wants to slow things down a bit.

Republicans in the Georgia state House put off voting on their version of a new Congressional map Wednesday, amid cries from Democrats to halt the mid-decade effort to redraw boundaries.

The state House Committee on Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment met Wednesday morning and was expected to pass a revised version of a map penned by panel chairman Bobby Franklin (R). But the vote was delayed, after Franklin said the public should have more time to comment on the new map.

“We wanted the public to have another chance to take a look at the map” Franklin told The Associated Press. “As soon as we feel it’s ready, and the committee is ready, we’ll be able to bring it forward.”

Part of the problem is that Georgia Republicans haven’t finalized an approach among themselves. Still, a delay is a delay.

I’ve also heard that some DC Republicans are grumbling at the prospect of a full blown re-redistricting war with Dems, which the Georgia scheme would invite and encourage. The ball’s in the Republicans’ court, but if Georgia moves ahead with this nonsense, it could get real ugly, real fast.