Episode 32767: Open Democracy Minute for January 10, 2022: Gerrymandered maps pass in the NH House, NH SOS steps down, US Senate considers filbuster rules

You're listening to the Open Democracy Minute, keeping Granite State government by and for the people.    The NH House had its full session last week, Jan 5th, 6th & 7th and started with parliamentary trickery by moving their redistricting bills from Thursday to Wednesday.  With 20 Democrats not voting, the gerrymandered Congressional districts were passed with a 22-vote margin.  House district maps, which did NOT give 56 eligible towns their own districts were also passed and sent to the Senate.     Monday, January 10 the NH Senate holds hearings on its proposed NH Senate and Executive Council districts.  The Map-a-Thon Citizen mapping project has reviewed both and found both maps to be gerrymandered and uncompetitive. In surprise news, NH Secretary of State William Gardner announced that he would step down after 45 years.  His deputy, David Scalan, will be sworn in Monday until elections are held in December 2022.    U.S. Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer announced last week that he would press to make changes to the filibuster and pass the Freedom to Vote Act and John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act by the Martin Luther King holiday.  Senators Shaheen and Hassan have both pledged to make the changes and pass the bills. As Granny D said, “Democracy is not something we HAVE, it's something we DO.”  For the Open Democracy Minute, I'm Brian Beihl.