The last surviving redistricting bills will be heard in the House Privileges and Elections subcommittee on elections early Tuesday (2/14) and the question of weather to ban political gerrymandering has Virginia Republicans divided.

Some GOP Republican Senators are pushing legislation that would prohibit lawmakers removing their political opponents through redistricting and strengthen requirements that districts be compact, contiguous and keep localities and precincts whole.

Senator Jill Vogel of Faquier said, “No local government is pleased when they don’t have one person that can be accountable to them. Now they have multiple people. Clearly their issues and challenges are greatly diluted and their ability to be effective is greatly diminished among all of these people who have to represent them.”

The Republican supermajority in the House of Delegates has been less willing to embrace changes to the current redistricting system. Mark Cole, Chairman of the House Privileges and Elections committee, says it’s inappropriate to make such changes until after pending litigation has been resolved.