COLUMBUS, Ohio — The battle to draw Ohio's new political boundaries started with a squabble Wednesday afternoon over the congressional district map that the minority Democrats proposed during a Tuesday morning news conference.

Democrats are upset Republican Speaker of the House Matt Huffman did not refer their redistricting map bill to a committee for public hearings.

Huffman said during Wednesday's House Rules and Reference Committee meeting that Democrats submitted the bill too late for committee referral this time, but it will be up for referral the next time the committee meets.

Democrats accuse Republicans of failing to advance what they call their fair, constitutional map.

"House Bill 442, which we introduced, which was the map the Democratic Caucus submitted, was submitted on

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