Winning the governorship plus majorities in both houses in 2010, Republicans seized the golden opportunity to dominate the decennial process of redistricting the state as never before. They had new voter boundaries drawn up behind closed doors by private law firms that would be paid by taxpayers. GOP legislators were made to sign oaths of secrecy before they could view their own redrawn districts. Rushed to beat six state Senate recall elections, the maps were quietly signed into law by Gov. Scott Walker on election day, Aug. 9, 2011.
