Oregon Legislature OKs new political boundaries

By SARA CLINE
Associated Press/Report for America

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Despite a threat to block new political maps Republican state lawmakers returned to the Oregon Capitol  as the Legislature passed legislative and congressional boundaries that included a new, sixth U.S. House seat.   The congressional map, which House Republicans say is unfair and boycotted on Saturday by staging a walkout, passed Monday in the House and Senate on party-line votes . Democrats hold majorities in the Oregon Statehouse. Monday was the deadline for the Legislature to pass the new U.S. House districts or the task would’ve gone to a panel of retired judges. The new map includes four U.S. House seats that either are safe Democratic or lean in the party’s favor, one reliably red seat and one seat that could be a toss-up.