The group Voters Not Politicians has filed a motion to intervene in a lawsuit filed last month by state Republicans.
The lawsuit seeks to shut down Michigan's new redistricting commission. The suit says the rules outlining who can serve on the commission are unconstitutional.
Voters approved a ballot measure last November to create an independent commission to determine political district lines.
Nancy Wang is Executive Director of Voters Not Politicians.
“We know that this redistricting reform amendment, by design, takes away the power that politicians, and special interests, and lobbyists have used for their own gain,” she said.
Wang says she's not surprised by the pushback.
“It's disheartening, it's ironic, but it's not unexpected,” she said.
Tony Daunt is with the Michigan Freedom Fund and a co-plaintiff in the lawsuit. He said in a statement:
“Regardless of the various legal motions and briefs that will be filed as this case progresses, it does not change the fact that this commission is an assault on the Constitutional rights of every Michiganian. Quite frankly, I’m surprised that any individual or group would defend a policy of punishing and excluding people from serving their state simply because they choose to exercise the rights afforded to them in our Constitution. It’s especially offensive that anyone would support punishing someone simply by virtue of who they are related to.”
