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MADISON -Already thin, Republican support for nonpartisan redistricting in Wisconsin may be fading.

Democrats say they want to take partisanship out of redistricting so legislative and congressional maps are drawn in a neutral way. Republicans are not on board with that idea, saying they dont believe map drawing can be depoliticized.

Democrats point to polling to say the public is on their side, but if anything their support from Republicans is slipping.

Two years ago, five Republican lawmakers signed onto a bill that would require congressional and legislative districts to be drawn by an independent panel. This session, three Republicans have signed up.

The lack of Republican backing is a reminder that the effort to overhaul redistricting in Wisconsin is headed nowhere in the short term.

States must draw new districts every decade to account for population changes. Ten years ago, Republicans controlled all of state government and approved maps that greatly helped them.

This time, Republicans again control the Legislature, but Democratic Gov. Tony Evers can veto whatever maps they draw. Without an agreement between them, it would be left to courts to decide where to draw the lines.

Evers and other Democrats say the state should avoid a court fight by having a nonpartisan body draw the lines. Democrats in the Legislature recently unveiled a billthat would do that.

Its getting scant attention from Republicans, who have commanding majorities in the Senate and Assembly.

Signing onto the nonpartisan redistricting legislation this year were Republican Reps. Joel Kitchens of Sturgeon Bay, Todd Novak of Dodgeville and Travis Tranel of Cuba City. They also backed the bill two years ago.

Two others who joined them last time Republican Reps. Jeffrey Mursau of Crivitz and Loren Oldenburg of Viroqua havent done so this time. They didnt say why they hadnt.

A sixth Republican, Rep. Jon Plumer of Lodi, has repeatedly said he would vote for nonpartisan redistricting but has not signed onto the bill.

Eric Holder, who served as attorney general for President Barack Obama, acknowledged Democrats were unlikely to persuade many Republican lawmakers on the legislation like the bill in Wisconsin.

Republican voters might see it differently, said Holder, who leads the National Democratic Redistricting Committee. His group pushes for nonpartisan redistricting.

The Republican public I think can be reached and can be convinced theres a better way to do the process that has happened in the past in Wisconsin, Holder said. Republican politicians Im not sure they can be reached.

Republican lawmakers dont buy Holders claims that he wants nonpartisan maps, noting his group filed paperwork with the Internal Revenue Service saying its mission is to "favorably position Democrats for the redistricting process."

Former Republican Gov. Scott Walkerin a tweet last year said Holder and his group "want to throw out old maps in many states and gerrymander Democrats into long-term control of the House."

Holder said hes committed to nonpartisan causes, noting he opposed Democratic gerrymandering efforts in Maryland in court and pushed for Democrats in Virginia to give up power by creating a nonpartisan commission.

ContactPatrick Marley at patrick.marley@jrn.com. Followhim on Twitter at @patrickdmarley.

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Split between Wisconsin Democrats and Republicans on redistricting reform appears to be widening - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel