Why Indiana lawmakers are careful to call redistricting 'political'

A lawyer by trade, state Rep. Matt Pierce, D-Bloomington, questioned the author of Indiana's redistricting bill on Dec. 2 as though he was cross-examining a witness.

And Rep. Ben Smaltz, R-Auburn, answered like one.

Pierce: As you were drawing this map to achieve your political goals, did you consider the impact on communities of interest?

Smaltz: I think that I’ve been very clear that these maps were drawn for political advantage.

Pierce: And so communities of interest was not a consideration?

Smaltz: I think I’ve been very clear that the maps were drawn for political outcome.

Smaltz sat through similar exchanges for close to an hour , repeatedly employing some variation of the phrase, "drawn for political advantage" or "purely for political performance," especially to questions