TOPEKA—On Monday, the GOP Kansas Legislative Coordinating Council approved $460,000 to fund a four-day special legislative session focused on redistricting the state of Kansas, without holding any public forum, according to a media release from Kansas House Democrats.
Missouri and Texas have already approved new maps.
Republicans already hold three of the state’s four congressional districts. A revised map would target the suburban Kansas City district held by Democratic Rep. Sharice Davids.
"Without any public input, the GOP-led Legislature Coordinating Council just approved spending Kansas taxpayers' money to call a special session to redistrict Kansas at the whim of Donald Trump," according to a statement from House Minority Leader Brandon Woodard.
"This is a slap in the face to Kansans who are struggling with rising costs of living and out-of-control property taxes, issues the Legislature should be addressing instead," according to Woodard.
The cost of the special session would cost less than the approved $460,000 if the session lasts less than four days. The session could begin as early as November 7. Republican lawmakers who hold a supermajority in the Kansas Legislature have been gathering petition signatures from colleagues in an attempt to call a special session on congressional redistricting. They are taking that route because Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly is unlikely to call a special session.
-The AP contributed to this report.