Koch blasts Cuomo, Senate over redistricting

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Koch blasts Cuomo, Senate over redistricting

By The Associated Press
Posted: 3:43 am Fri, March 9, 2012 3:43 am Fri, March 9, 2012

ALBANY — Former New York City Mayor Ed Koch says Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s path on redistricting will break his promise to reform the process.

Koch also says Senate Republican leader Dean Skelos is not honorable because he broke his commitment.

Koch led the New York Uprising group that secured the signed pledge of nearly every legislator during the 2010 campaign. He also got Cuomo’s promise to veto any election district not drawn by an independent commission.

A closed-door political deal appears to be in the works among legislative leaders and Cuomo to approve lines drawn by the Assembly and Senate majorities and to push off the process for more independent redistricting for a decade.

Cuomo says he now understands the constitution makes redistricting a responsibility of the Legislature, not an independent commission.