Come in from recess

OHIO lawmakers are enjoying a long if not notably hard-earned summer vacation - except, of course, those who are busily campaigning for re-election in November. But before these public servants start planning their next terms, they might resolve to finish the work voters elected them to do this year.

Every 10 years, a board of elected state officials must redraw the boundaries of General Assembly districts to account for population changes measured by the most recent census. Depending on the partisan composition of the board, this reapportionment process is subject to notorious gerrymandering: Nearly two-thirds of state senators are Republicans, although no one would credibly argue that that proportion accurately reflects the percentage of GOP voters in Ohio.

Partisan control of the legislative houses has an obvious effect on which laws get made and how taxpayer dollars get spent - and, just as important, which measures get killed. Enacting a redistricting plan that fairly and accurately represents all Ohio citizens, and maximizes the prospect of genuinely competitive legislative elections, is one of the most important things state government can do.

The state House and Senate have passed separate versions of legislation that would set guidelines for the next redistricting effort, once data from the 2010 Census are available. The House plan is better, but either would be more bipartisan and publicly inclusive than the discredited status quo.

But the two houses have not reconciled the differences in their respective versions, which would amend the state Constitution, so they could submit a single proposal to voters. The deadline for getting such a plan on the November ballot is next week.

Lawmakers would have to interrupt their summer holiday to return to Columbus and craft and pass a final plan. They have given no indication they will do so.

The effects of General Assembly gridlock abetted by legislative gerrymandering are clear. The GOP-dominated Senate has ignored good legislation passed by the Democratic-majority House that would provide options to home foreclosures and curb abuses by payday lenders.

A summer legislative session could consider these measures too if there were such a session, which there evidently won't be. The few lawmakers who remain in the Capitol to examine the potential $8 billion hole in next year's state budget appear more interested in playing election-year "gotcha" than finding bipartisan solutions.

Lawmakers who represent districts that neither major party dominates have to pay attention to all of their constituents. Those who come from districts drawn to be safe for one party or the other don't. They can spend their time on other things, such as holding fund-raisers or relaxing on an extended summer recess.

If legislators want to keep their jobs, voters should reasonably expect them to do their jobs. Whether lawmakers choose to return to Columbus in the next few days will clearly demonstrate their work ethic, or lack of it.