Miller condemns passage of gerrymandered congressional maps

Today, Dec. 5, Indiana House Republicans passed House Bill 1032, their gerrymandered congressional map, after months of pressure from Gov. Mike Braun and Washington, D.C. The map carves up like-minded communities to make elections less competitive to benefit one party. HB 1032 heads to the Senate for their consideration next week.

State Rep. Kyle Miller (D-Fort Wayne), issued the following statement:

"This week, during committee hearings and testimony on the House Floor, we heard our Republican colleagues tell us all the reasons we need to pass this rigged map. In that process, we learned that the author of the bill supposedly didn't think about the impact the map would have on minority communities throughout the state. Regardless of intent, this map proposal will dilute the vote of African American Hoosiers and Hoosiers of color, and was clearly created only for the political advantage of the Republican Party.

"What we didn't hear this week was how this map will make life better for Hoosiers. We could have discussed anything this week – from utility bills to health care costs to the rising cost of living. I hear from constituents who are struggling to make ends meet every day. Instead of focusing on the needs of Hoosiers, House Republicans used this week to follow orders given to them from Washington, D.C. How's that for local leadership?

"I'm hoping our colleagues in the Senate stand up to this power grab and say 'no' to redistricting."