Statement of Governor Perdue Regarding Redistricting Case

Atlanta - Governor Sonny Perdue issued the following statement today regarding the decision by a three judge panel of the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia denying a stay of the Court's redistricting decision on February 10:

"The District Court today reaffirmed their decision that Georgia 's legislative districts are unconstitutional and need to be redrawn by March 1. The legislature can choose to draw new maps in compliance with the Court's order or default to the Court to the draw the districts. The Court has strongly urged the General Assembly to rise to this task, and I firmly believe that it is the responsibility of Georgia 's elected representatives to draw these maps. We should not have to rely on the Court to do the people's work for us.

"I urge Republicans and Democrats to create maps that adhere to the traditional redistricting principles we introduced in Senate Bill 91 last year. The districts should be compact, keep communities of interest together, and they should be fair and square. All of our citizens should have equal voting power.

"And again I call on the Attorney General to stop wasting taxpayer dollars on appeals. We should not squander any more of the state's money on this case."