COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - A Republican negotiator says a deal is getting close on an alternative map of new Ohio congressional districts.
Former state GOP chairman Bob Bennett tells The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer the Ohio House could vote on a different map as early as Wednesday.
But that optimistic assessment is being dismissed by the Democratic head of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus.
Republican House Speaker William Batchelder asked Bennett to work with black House Democrats to find compromise.
New district lines drawn by Republicans and passed by lawmakers in September have been thrown into limbo as Democrats gather signatures in hopes of putting the map before voters next year for possible repeal.
Black caucus President Sandra Williams of Cleveland said Tuesday Republicans have offered to make only "minor tweaks" in the map.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
