Arizona governor balks at redistricting commission attorneys' fees
The Arizona Republic reports,
Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano, a strong supporter of a voter-approved independent commission created to draw Arizona's political boundaries, now is balking at its $4 million request to defend its maps in court.Her actions have ignited opposition at the Capitol from state and congressional Republicans, who say the new maps favor their candidates.
Critics say Napolitano is playing partisan politics by ignoring the will of Arizona voters who approved the initiative in 2000. Napolitano said she wants to review the $2.4 million in legal fees that the Independent Redistricting Commission has rung up over the past few years before approving more taxpayer money.
The Arizona Daily Sun reports,
The Independent Redistricting Commission is going to the Supreme Court today to force the state to give it more money.(Disclosure: I represent the plaintiffs in the suit against the Independent Redistricting Commission over its Congressional plan.)