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PHOENIX (AP) - Gov. Jan Brewer has signed into law a bill to provide $500,000 in extra funding for Arizona's redistricting commission to allow the commission to pay lawyers defending it from lawsuits.

The Legislature approved the bill last week on lopsided votes.

The commission had asked for nearly $2.3 million to pay lawyers and for reserves in case it faces more lawsuits or has to redraw district maps.

Republican Rep. John Kavanagh of Fountain Hills said $500,000 would be enough for the commission to operate for several months.

The commission redraws legislative and congressional districts every 10 years.

It faces several Republican-backed lawsuits challenging district maps the commission approved in January 2012.