Redistricting plan puts U.S. representatives in same district

DES MOINES (AP) ? A proposed new map of congressional districts released Thursday would toss Republican congressmen Steve King and Tom Latham into the same district. It also would put Democratic Reps. Bruce Braley and Dave Loebsack in the same northeastern Iowa district.

The proposed map delivered to the Legislature shrinks the state into four congressional districts, down from five. That?s because the latest U.S. Census showed Iowa wasn?t growing as quickly as other states and would lose a seat.

Rep. Leonard Boswell would be in a southwest Iowa district that includes Des Moines, while a heavily Democratic district in southeast Iowa would have no member of congress as a resident.

The new map was released by the Legislative Services Agency, a nonpartisan arm of the Legislature.

State law requires lawmakers to hold public hearings on the proposed new maps. They will vote on whether to accept them April 13 or 14.

The proposed map shows a giant district in northwest Iowa that runs from Chickesaw County to the border with Nebraska. It extends as far south as Shelby County.

The other three districts are much smaller, with the cities of Des Moines and Council Bluffs included in the districts Boswell now represents.

Braley and Loebsack would be tossed together in a new northeast Iowa district that include Linn and Dubuque counties.

A heavily Democratic district would be created in southeast Iowa that includes Jefferson, Van Buren, Washington and Henry counties. That proposed district isn?t now home to any incumbent congressman.

In the past, such moves have prompted members of Congress to move in order to remain in the redrawn district.

?For more than four years, I have been honored to represent much of southeastern Iowa ? in Iowa?s Second Congressional district,? said Loebsack. ?Understanding that the redistricting process is ongoing, as the map stands now, I would plan to continue to represent the southeastern district of Iowa that stretches from I-35 to Iowa City, the Quad Cities and to the southeastern most tip of Keokuk. I have been honored to represent these communities in the past and look forward to representing them in the future.?

Legislative leaders have said they would like to approve the first proposed map, in part because there is always the fear that members of their party could fare worse in later versions.

For information about the redistricting process, visit www.legis.iowa.gov. Look for the ?Iowa Redistricting? tab.