Weekly Wrap: The maps dance

Legislative kabuki was the rage this week, as Republican lawmakers pushed their new voting district maps forward despite blistering public criticism and vehement complaints from Democrats.

Posted 11:04 p.m. Aug 25, 2017 — Updated 11:04 p.m. Aug 25, 2017

RALEIGH, N.C. — Legislative kabuki was the rage this week, as Republican lawmakers pushed their new voting district maps forward despite blistering public criticism and vehement complaints from Democrats.

Hundreds of people blasted lawmakers during a lengthy public hearing Tuesday, saying the maps weren't fair or competitive, and the process used to create them was improper. Democratic lawmakers said the maps don't fix the racial gerrymanders federal judges ordered the state to fix and even create new problems.

Still, by the end of next week, the GOP majority is expected to send its maps to the federal judges for review.

Republican House members also voted to override two more of Gov. Roy Cooper's vetoes, and another three override votes are expected next week. The two measures that are a Senate vote away from becoming law would allow an expansion of property credit insurance and provide a raft of "clarifying changes," including shifting two appointments on the North Carolina Medical Board from Cooper to lawmakers and allowing a former GOP lawyer to get paid for holding two state government jobs.

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