House Speaker Greg Stumbo is encouraging Gov. Steve Beshear to soon call a General Assembly special session so that lawmakers can pass new state legislative redistricting maps and end a federal lawsuit. Last week, several county clerks in Northern Kentucky filed a federal lawsuit claiming the state's inability to finish redistricting violated federal law. In response, Stumbo sent a letter to the governor encouraging him to call a special session.
Stumbo says it's pointless to waste money on litigation when House lawmakers have already passed a new redistricting map. Senate leaders have largely said that they wanted to wait until the 2014 session to pass redistricting maps.
"I believe this is an issue better resolved sooner than later," Stumbo writes.
Beshear says he's open to a special session on redistricting, but wants to make sure all parties are ready so costs can be minimized.
A special session costs taxpayers $60,000 a day.
