Governor Keating offers his redistricting plan

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Governor Keating has presented his plan for redistricting and is calling on Democrats to present their proposal. <br><br>Under the state Constitution, the Legislature has authority

Tuesday, May 1st 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Governor Keating has presented his plan for redistricting and is calling on Democrats to present their proposal.

Under the state Constitution, the Legislature has authority to draw new boundaries for House and Senate districts, but the governor can issue a veto if he doesn't like the plan.

If an agreement is not reached, the chore goes to a three-member commission consisting of the attorney general, state school superintendent and state treasurer. All are Democrats.

Keating's proposal combines House districts 55 and 57 in western Oklahoma, a result of a loss of nearly 33-thousand residents in the area between 1990 and 2000.

The plan also calls for creation of a new district from Broken Bow north to Catoosa in the Tulsa area, which experienced a population increase of more than 27-thousand in the '90s.

House Speaker Larry Adair says Keating's input isn't needed and his plan appears to be an attempt to gerrymander districts.