FRANKFORT — House Democratic Floor Leader Rocky Adkins, D-Sandy Hook, recently told a Democratic colleague new to the redistricting process that “it’s not only political — it’s personal.”

On Thursday, it got a little bit more personal.

The House passed a plan to redraw its own districts which splits 28 counties and combines nine incumbents against another, all but one of them (Adkins) Republicans. The vote was 63-34 with only five Republicans voting for it.

Republicans offered their own plan, but it never stood a chance of passing the Democratic controlled House. But the debate got personal when House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, said Republican Rep. Joe Fischer of Ft. Thomas didn’t tell House members the alternative put forward by Republicans violated the federal Voting Rights Act.

Fischer’s plan would split only 24 counties — 22 must be split because their populations exceed the required population of each district — and, according to Fischer, created an additional minority-majority district in Jefferson County (districts with a majority of African American voters). But Stumbo charged the plan eliminated a minority-majority district in Fayette County because it didn’t take into account Hispanic voters.

“If you want to violate the federal law and constitution, vote for the amendment,” Stumbo said.

Fischer subsequently said he’d only discovered the error earlier that day and it could be remedied by amendment, but Stumbo said Fischer “knew it but didn’t tell you and that offends me.” Fischer denied he intended to mislead colleagues.

Republicans contended the Democrats’ plan was politically motivated and violated the state constitutional requirement and Supreme Court rulings that such districting plans split the fewest number of counties possible while staying within 5 percent, plus or minus, of the required population.

But Stumbo said that “nothing done in this bill is done with ill intent or malice.”

Republican Whip Danny Ford of Mt. Vernon accused Stumbo of questioning Fischer’s integrity and several others spoke to defend Fischer. Ford contended voting for the Democrats’ plan violated the oath of office each lawmaker takes to uphold the constitution.

“Down deep in your heart, ask yourself this question: am I upholding my oath of office and the constitution?” Ford told the House. The plan draws a district for Ford which stretches from Madison County, through his home county of Rockcastle and then along a very narrow stretch of Pulaski County to include Adair County.

Minority Leader Jeff Hoover, R-Jamestown, said Democrats are afraid to face voters after a record which produced a higher per capita debt than surrounding states, an unfunded pension system, health care reform at the national level and with President Barack Obama on the ballot. And he said the divisive battle over House districts will affect other legislation. He said he’d promised to keep an open mind about admitting the University of Pikeville to the state’s higher education system, a bill pushed by Stumbo and former Gov. Paul Patton, now president of Pikeville.

“Are you serious, Mr. Speaker?” Hoover asked from the floor. “Do you think we can sit down now and talk about the University of Pikeville?”

Rep. Jill York, R-Grayson, saw her district of Carter and Lewis counties carved up among four Democrats: Adkins will now represent Carter and Lewis will be split among Democrats Tanya Pullin of South Shore, John Will Stacy of West Liberty and Mike Denham of Maysville.

York said in a floor speech the plan was the result of “the political machine (that) runs on games and seems more interested in fiefdom building than service to the people.”

Lonnie Napier, R-Lancaster, complained that Madison County had been split four ways (it’s currently represented by three lawmakers) and his district will no longer include Madison County constituents he’d represented for 28 years. Rep. Bob DeWeese, R-Louisville, said the plan “disenfranchises citizens of the commonwealth” and said as the minority party gains seats over the decade between re-districting plans, “something happens and heads roll.”

Stacy defended the plan, saying he isn’t happy to lose Menifee County but promising to represent Lewis County’s best interests. He said the Republican county hasn’t been disenfranchised.

“They’re getting three senior members of the General Assembly to represent them,” Stacy said.

While smaller counties often object to multiple representatives others say multiple voices in the legislature gives the county more clout. That, of course, doesn’t address the Republican county losing its Republican representative — York — and replacing her with Democrats.

The bill actually contained three plans: the House districts; one for the Senate based on current districts which the Senate will replace with its own plan; and new districts for the Supreme Court. That map was submitted by the court to the House and simply adopted – something Hoover said technically violates the constitution which gives authority to the legislature to draw the districts.

The Republican controlled Senate has yet to reveal its plan but Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, said it will do so next week.

RONNIE ELLIS writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort. Reach him at rellis@cnhi.com. Follow CNHI News Service stories on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cnhifrankfort.