Topeka ? The Kansas House gave preliminary approval Friday to a congressional map that would split Lawrence between two districts.

The 69-51 vote advances the measure to a final vote in the House scheduled for Monday.

	See map proposals.

Currently Lawrence is in the 3rd Congressional District with the Kansas City metropolitan area.

The proposal would split the city along Iowa Street and place west Lawrence in the 2nd Congressional District and east Lawrence, including Kansas University, in the 3rd District.

Democrats said the measure was a blatant attempt by Republicans to try to hurt U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore, the lone Democrat in the Kansas congressional delegation, who represents the 3rd District.

City, county and chamber of commerce officials from Lawrence wanted to keep the city in the 3rd District, citing economic and academic ties to the Kansas City area.

If that’s not possible, the Lawrence officials said they would prefer for the city to stay wholly in the 2nd District, which is represented by Jim Ryun, a Republican.

Attempts Friday to keep Lawrence in the 3rd District or place it entirely in the 2nd District were defeated, mostly along partisan lines with Republicans voting to split the city.

If the House plan is adopted Monday, it will then go to the Senate for consideration.

A Senate committee has approved a plan that would place Lawrence in the 2nd District, but the full Senate has not considered it yet because that proposal is opposed by Senate leaders.

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