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Akron Beacon Journal Editorial Board

The Ohio Redistricting Commission has done a wonderful job of guarding taxpayer dollars, carrying out the wishes of the majority of voters and ensuring fairness, transparency and a chicken in every pot.

April fool! Oh, excuse us, please.

A lot of tricks have been played, but when it comes to the Redistricting Commission, not one isfunny.

Chaos is the best word to describe the results of the Redistricting Commission made up of five Republicans and two Democrats.

By now, we should be heading toward a May 3 primary with key dates circled in red (for example, the deadline to register to vote is Monday). But take a look at the Summit County Board of Elections website and you are warned: the offices of the state House and Senate and State Central Committee will not be on the May 3 ballot.

Also, Ohioans will be voting for congressional candidates (maybe) in the May 3 primary, unless lawmakers or the courts intervene. The U.S. House maps are in the midst of a court challenge, and nothing will be decided until late May.

As for the state legislative maps, the commission has until Monday to respond to lawsuits or face contempt of court. The commission has admitted, according to the Ohio League of Women Voters and other petitioners, that the maps approved last Monday are the same maps already rejected by the Ohio Supreme Court with only minor changes.

This last action by Republicans on the Commission would be almost funny if it were not so consequential and nakedly partisan, former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, head of the Democrat-aligned National Redistricting Action Fund, said in a statement last week. Ohio runs the risk of becoming a punchline to a bad joke."

It seems the Republicans in charge are the ones taking thingslightly. Surely, commission members Senate President Matt Huffman and House Speaker Bob Cupp must feel untouchable, or none of this would be happening.

They're clearly more worried about protecting their incumbents' jobs than listening to the people of Ohio.

They must feel its highly unlikely they will be cited or removed from office for contempt of court;otherwise, they would not have led the commission down this path.

Why should they fear consequences? Look at the bribery scandal involving FirstEnergy Corp. and former House Speaker Larry Householder. Fellow Republican lawmakers dragged their feet and waited a year to expel him after his arrest on racketeeringcharges.

FirstEnergy has admitted it paid Householder, and youd think lawmakers would keep their distance, but as recently as February, Householder was texting state lawmakers, urging them to kill a data privacy bill. A USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau report shows at least one representative sounding grateful for Householders nudges, saying he simply didnt know what to think about some of these guys.

Householder is no longer in office, but this ongoing mess called redistricting shows some of the same unwillingness in Columbus to threaten the power structure. House Bill 6, a $1 billion utility bailout, still hasnt been repealed, despite the taint of federal investigations. Fortunately, there have been two separate injunctions that halt decoupling charges and nuclear plant subsidiesthat would have cost FirstEnergy customers $2 billion.

But in a similar, stubborn manner, the Redistricting Commission has flaunted the Ohio Supreme Court. Its never felt responsible to the Ohio voters who in 2015 (congressional) and 2018 (state legislative) voted by 70% or more to rewrite the Ohio Constitution in a bid to end gerrymandering. The new process was supposed to take place in the open, with consideration for voters'statewide preferences.

The result of this underhandedness can be counted in taxpayer dollars: Asecond primary is expected to cost taxpayers an additional $20 million to $25 million; and it has cost more than $1.1 million to drawmaps and defendthem in court.

Most recently, maps produced by two independent consultants were rejected at the last minute. The two, who were paid $450 perhour, produced maps with a 54-45 GOP advantage in the House and an 18-15 GOP advantage in the Senate. Republicans rejected them, and hastily submitted the slightly tweaked maps now at issue.

The out-of-control partisans who don't like Ohio Supreme Court Justice Maureen OConnor's rulings have tried to smear her reputation and talk about impeaching her.

One might question whether Democrats would make similar moves if in power. It's hard to say, since Republicans have completely dominated Ohio politics for 24 of 30 years, holding the governor's office and both chambers of the legislature. Still, advocates say some 46% of Ohioans vote Democratic, and especially in urban areas like Akron, they would like their voices heard.

That's why we are urging lawmakers to take democracy seriously.

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Not funny: Jokers in Columbus make mess of redistricting, cause confusion and waste money - Akron Beacon Journal