Redistricting plan spurs lawsuit

The Ithaca Journal reports that New York Senate Democrats have filed a lawsuit over the Senate Republicans' plan to add a 63rd Senate seat, calling their proposal unconstitutional.

Senate Democrats filed a lawsuit Tuesday over Senate Republicans' decision to add an additional seat in the chamber, claiming the move is unconstitutional.

The 53-page lawsuit claims that the creation of the 63rd Senate District through the Hudson Valley is unconstitutional, saying it was created clearly for political purposes. The district would run from Montgomery County near Albany to Kingston, Ulster County.

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Sen. Michael Gianaris, D-Queens, charged that Republicans drew the lines solely to seek to retain their power after the November elections. Monroe County, for example, was split into six Senate districts, while Ulster County would have four senators.

"On its face, it's laughable to suggest this is not a partisan plan," Gianaris said. "And it's the result of a partisan process."

Read the full article here.