By KRWG News
New Mexico – A proposal to revamp New Mexico's congressional districts has cleared a Senate committee but Republicans aren't happy with the plan.
The proposal was approved Sunday by the Rules Committee on a party-line vote, with Democrats backing it.
Republicans objected that the plan splits Roosevelt County between two districts the heavily Democratic 3rd District of northern New Mexico and the GOP-leaning 2nd District of southern New Mexico.
Under the proposal, the city of Portales would remain in the 3rd District but much of the rest of the county would shift to the 2nd District.
Republicans said they wanted a redistricting plan that made the Albuquerque-area 1st District more politically competitive. The district is Democratic leaning under the committee-approved proposal.
The measure heads to another Senate panel for consideration.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.