By Shelly Baskin/AP
Frankfort, KY – A Kentucky state Senator has a redistricting plan that he says would only make minor changes to the state's U.S. Congressional District boundaries in response to new census numbers. Republican Damon Thayer made his proposal in response to criticism of a plan offered by Democratic House Speaker Greg Stumbo. Stumbo's plan would move Owensboro from the 2nd district to Representative Ed Whitfield's 1st district, and would move Ashland from the 4th district to the 5th. Thayer's plan could make the 6th District more Republican, which could hurt Democratic Representative Ben Chandler who beat Republican Andy Barr by only 647 votes last year. Barr is again seeking to unseat Chandler. His plan also shuffles some precincts between the 2nd and 3rd Districts in Jefferson County. But Thayer says his proposal will lead to a quick resolution to the redistricting debate as it makes no significant changes to the political balance of any districts. The legislature will vote on new boundaries in the upcoming January legislative session.