This is moderately amusing:
Democrats who have been boycotting the Indiana House of Representatives
for the past two weeks could disrupt more than the General Assembly's schedule.
They also might be delaying a big decision for U.S. Rep. Joe Donnelly, D-Granger.
The congressman is considering a bid for statewide office in 2012, but whether he runs for re-election, senator or governor will hinge on how the Republican-ruled state legislature redraws district maps with new census data.
Lawmakers were supposed to begin the redistricting process this month, but that timeline is in question now because of the House Democrats' walkout over education and labor bills.
Donnelly confirmed Monday that he's "very seriously looking" at the Senate seat Republican Richard Lugar occupies if the 2nd Congressional District's new shape favors a GOP candidate more than a Democrat.
Politicians always talk about taking the gerrymandering out of redistricting, but the temptation to help their own party is often too great. Indiana Democrats did a good job at gerrymandering after the 2000 Census, and, of course, are horrified that Republicans might reciprocate. Indiana Republicans have made a lot of noise about taking the politics out of the process this year, but that was before House Democrats took a hike and brought business to a screeching halt. Is it possible that Republicans will be so irritated that they will just go back to gerrymandering-as-usual (or use the walkout as an excuse to do what they wanted to anyway)? "Hmmm, how about we move South Bend out of the 2nd District and into the 1st? See ya, Joe!"
(Some background on the Supreme Court's struggles with gerrymandering. The court has decided the question should be based on a "legal standard," but it hasn't been able to come up with a standard.)
