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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- State lawmakers will travel the state Monday and Tuesday, seeking public comment on maps that include a proposed fourth U.S. House district.
During a lame-duck session beginning Dec. 4, Congress plans to debate a measure to expand the U.S. House from 435 members to 437, adding representatives in Utah and the District of Columbia.
But Congress doesn't want to act until members see Utah's proposed congressional districts.
The Legislature's redistricting committee will fly to public hearings in Provo, Price and St. George on Monday, before driving to Park City, Ogden and Salt Lake City Tuesday.
"We would like to get as much input as possible," said Santa Clara Rep. Dave Clark, who will become House majority leader in January. "It may be down to specific neighborhoods, or at the broad stroke looking at the state in general."
The committee plans to discuss four maps. The day after the hearings, the committee expects to select a final map to be voted on by the Legislature during a special session Dec. 1.
Republicans in the Legislature want each congressional district to have some rural constituents to respond to, while some Democrats argue for some densely urban districts covering the Wasatch Front.
Gov. Jon Huntsman, House Speaker Greg Curtis and Senate President John Valentine have given tentative approval to a map that includes four distinct districts, including one that would put Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim Matheson in a district that would lean Democratic.
Matheson has nothing to worry about in the redistricting process, according to the acting chairwoman of the state Republican Party.
"Jim Matheson's never going to get a better district than he is going to get under these circumstances," said Enid Greene, referencing to the pressure from Congress to protect incumbents.
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Information from: The Salt Lake Tribune www.sltrib.com On the Net: Utah Legislature www.le.utah.gov
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(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
