“It would be unrealistic to trust that the legislature would be unbiased when redrawing its own House and Senate Districts. Our history is replete with instances of political gamesmanship when it comes to gerrymandering state legislature and Congressional seats," Webster said in a written statement. "This is clearly an instance in which the state legislature should acknowledge that the public has recognized an impartial commission would have certainly lent more credibility to what has traditionally been a process marred in partisan politics.”

The House Republicans, who offered the amendment proposal during debate, which failed on a 123-31 vote, would have created a seven-member redistricting commission consisting of a dean or professor of law, political science or government from a Massachusetts institution of higher learning appointed by the Governor; a retired justice appointed by the Attorney General; and an expert in civil rights law appointed by the Secretary of State.

At least a dozen Democratic legislators previously supported the proposal prior to voting against the independent redistricting commission today, according to a press release issue by Rep. Webster's office.

The commission would also include four legislators, who would be selected by the three non-elected commission members from a list of nominees submitted by the House Speaker, House Minority Leader, Senate President and Senate Minority Leader to ensure bipartisan balance on the commission.

The House Election Laws chairman, Democrat Michael Moran, told his colleagues Wednesday he'll hold 12 public redistricting hearings which would be recorded and made available on the Internet.

Due to population shifts Massachusetts will be losing one of its 10 seats in the U.S. House in the next election.