No deal yet on congressional redistricting in Kentucky

FRANKFORT, Ky. - Negotiators in the throes of congressional redistricting still haven't been able to work out a compromise on two drastically differing plans being pushed by House Democrats and Senate Republicans, raising the possibility that the federal courts could end up resolving the issue.

Leading lawmaker said Monday that talks have broken down with little hope of restarting them anytime soon.

House Speaker Greg Stumbo said Monday that a federal judge could end up redrawing lines around the state's congressional districts if lawmakers fail to reach a compromise. The Prestonsburg Democrat didn't seem troubled by that prospect in a state where Republicans hold four of the state's six congressional seats.

"From a purely political perspective, I would think that the Democrats would likely fare better in a court challenge than Republicans," Stumbo said. "They have more to lose."

Sen. Damon Thayer, the Georgetown Republican leading negotiations for the GOP, said allowing the issue to go to court would be a gamble for Democrats.

"There's no way you could speculate it would be better for Democrats or Republicans," he said.