Virginia Kills Surprise Redistricting Plan

The Virginia Speaker of the House William Howell (R) “has ruled that the surprise changes that the Senate made to redistricting legislation are out of order, dealing a blow to GOP hopes to redraw districts,” the Richmond Times-Dispatch reports.

“Senate Republicans pushed through the plan on a 20-19 party-line vote on a day when Democrats were down one member because Sen. Henry Marsh III (D) attended inauguration ceremonies for President Barack Obama in Washington on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. ”