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FL: “Fair Districts” Group Now Has Bi-Partisan Opposition
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Wednesday, 26 May 2010 08:18

Via Sunshine State News:

U.S. Reps. Corrine Brown and Mario Diaz-Balart have filed a lawsuit seeking to block a proposed constitutional amendment aimed at overhauling how congressional boundaries are drawn.

Brown, D-Jacksonville, and Diaz-Balart, R-Miami, earlier this year testified before legislative committees against the FairDistricts proposal, Amendment 6 on the November ballot. The lawsuit, filed late Monday in Leon County Circuit Court, echoes the lawmakers’ testimony that the measure misleads voters and could hurt minority representation in Congress.

“Amendment 6 is riddled with inconsistencies and, if passed, would set unworkable standards in drawing districts,” said Diaz-Balart, a four-term congressman who served 14 years in the Legislature.

The lawsuit is the latest swipe in what has emerged as a steady barrage of exchanges between the state’s political parties and allied organizations divided over the Legislature’s 2012 redrawing of district lines for legislative and congressional seats. Redistricting is likely to shape partisan political fortunes across Florida for the decade ahead.

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Last Updated on Wednesday, 26 May 2010 08:18
LA: Redistricting Battles Already Buzzing
Written by admin
Tuesday, 25 May 2010 06:34

From the Associated Press:

The redrawing of political district lines can be among the most arcane topics for Capitol outsiders, chock full of discussions about maps, voting populations and demographics data. But inside the Capitol, it can be among the most heated debates and the most personal, deciding someone’s political survival.

Though the upcoming redistricting session for lawmakers is still months away in early 2011, it’s already rankling legislators now, and the arguments are spilling out into the current regular session, especially in the House.

The political districts are redrawn every 10 years with the release of new census data. The Legislature decides lines for its own seats and the state’s U.S. House seats, among other elected districts. This time is expected to be particularly contentious because of post-Hurricane Katrina population shifts and because Louisiana is predicted to lose one of its seven congressional seats.

“It’s going to be the most agonizing, difficult process we’re going to go through for the remainder of the term, or at least tied up there with the budget,” said House Speaker Jim Tucker, R-Terrytown.

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Last Updated on Tuesday, 25 May 2010 06:34
OR: Move to Let Retired Judges Handle Redistricting
Written by admin
Friday, 21 May 2010 08:08

From the Oregonian:

Right now, the state’s constitution requires the Legislature to reapportion state legislative districts based on population every 10 years. If the Legislature fails to enact a plan (as it has for several decades), the job goes to the secretary of state, another partisan office. Petition 50 would amend the constitution to require that redistricting be conducted by an appointed commission of retired judges instead. And the state Supreme Court, rather than the secretary of state, would be the default reapportionment team if the commission failed to complete its work.

The judges, appointed by the state’s chief justice, would prepare a preliminary plan, followed by public comment and hearings. The secretary of state’s office would lend technical assistance to the process as it does now. There would be no cost increase associated with the change. In fact, it would likely save money.

The petition has bipartisan support. Two Republicans and one Democrat are sponsors. Common Sense of Oregon, a conservative group, drew up the proposal. But Petition 50 is woefully short of the number of signatures it needs to make the fall ballot. That likely is more a result of campaign fatigue in a post-Measures 66 and 67 Oregon rather than any shortcoming of this good-governance initiative.

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Last Updated on Friday, 21 May 2010 08:08
FL: Dem/Labor/ACORN Funded Group Cries Foul Over Ballot Placement
Written by admin
Thursday, 20 May 2010 11:50

From the Orlando Sentinel Blog:

Even though the redistricting measure wasn’t approved by state lawmakers until the final day of the session, the measure was sent to the Secretary of State’s office ahead of other ballot measures that had been approved days and weeks earlier.

That means the measure – HJR 7231 – will appear on the ballot as Amendment 7. The redistricting amendments pushed by FairDistrictsFlorida.org are Amendment 5 and Amendment 6.

“It makes practical and logical sense to position HJR 7231 with the other reapportionment amendments,’’ said Jaryn Emhof, a spokeswoman for Senate President Jeff Atwater.

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Last Updated on Thursday, 20 May 2010 11:51
NY Dem Leaders Balk at Redistricting Change
Written by admin
Friday, 14 May 2010 07:14

From StrausNews.com:

The leaders of New York’s powerful legislative majorities aren’t backing a proposal for independent, nonpartisan redrawing of election district lines aimed at making races more competitive.

Senate Democratic leader John Sampson and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver say they plan some changes to the current system that has protected majorities in control of the chambers for decades.

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Last Updated on Friday, 14 May 2010 07:14
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