On March 23rd, the San Bernardino Sun published an article titled “Ramos funds legal action against opponent Derry, seeking removal of term ‘businessman’.” The article centers on the request of a supporter of Board of Supervisors candidate James Ramos’ for a judge to order Ramos’ opponent, incumbent Niel Derry, to remove the word businessman from Derry’s ballot statement.
Author Archives: Rose Institute
Minnesota Finalizes New Congressional Maps
Final court-drawn plans that make minimal changes to current Minnesota congressional districts were released February 21, 2012, following nearly a year of stalemate between DFL Governor Mark Dayton and the Republican-held legislature that failed to produce a mutually agreeable map.
Rose Fellow Doug Johnson on Shifting Demographics
On March 18th, the Pasadena Star News published an article titled “State’s 49th Assembly District home to changing demographic and multi-ethnic coalition”. The article discusses the shifting demographics of the San Gabriel Valley, and the formation of a multi-ethnic coalition, and what these changes mean for the state and the nation.
Kentucky Passes Congressional Maps
Kentucky lawmakers reached an agreement over new congressional districts on Friday February 10. The original deadline for the map was January 31, but was extended to February 7. When the already delayed candidate filing deadline passed without a new map, the issue was taken to court on February 9 by attorney Scott White of Lexington. The potential for court-created districts likely spurred lawmakers to pass a plan that many remain unhappy with. The new congressional districts were passed in the House by a vote 58-26, and 29-7 in the Senate.
Rose Fellow Doug Johnson on Competitive Local Primary Races
On March 12th, The San Bernardino Sun posted an article titled “California Republican Party announces endorsements picks Miller over Dutton”. The article discussed the Republican Party’s endorsement of longtime lawmaker Rep. Gary Miller the 31st Congressional District seat and the strong competition Miller continues to face from state Sen. Bob Dutton (R). The article also covers the lack of a GOP endorsement for the 8th Congressional District, a large area including most of the eastern end of San Bernardino County and extending northward into Inyo County.
Rose Fellow Doug Johnson on Campaign Donations
On March 9th, the La Canada Valley Sun published an article titled “Obama, Romney cash in locally”. The article discussed the donation habits of Southern California residents to Presidential campaigns in 2011, quoting Rose Institute Fellow Doug Johnson.
California Pension Reform: Gov. Brown and Republicans vs. Democrats?
California’s pension problems are well-documented. According to a report by the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, the state’s public employee pension system is underfunded by $535 billion. $360 billion would have to be injected into pension and health care benefit systems immediately just to give California an 80 percent chance of meeting 80 percent of the obligations in 16 years.
Gerrymandering “Hall of Shame”
The following districts are examples of gerrymandering in the 2001 bipartisan gerrymander of California, along with a sampling of districts from other states. California Assembly AD 7: 2001 District Corresponding 1991 District AD 10: 2001 District Corresponding 1991 District AD 18: 2001 District Corresponding 1991 District AD 21: 2001 District Corresponding 1991 District AD 24: 2001… Continue Reading
What is Preclearance?
The Voting Rights Act was enacted to make “the promise of the right to vote under the 15th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution a reality, ninety-five years after [its] passage”. Under the Voting Rights Act of 1965, sixteen states are required to submit any redistricting plans to the U.S. Department of Justice for preclearance. Preclearance is defined as the process of seeking U.S. Department of Justice approval for all changes related to voting. Section 5 of the Act requires that the United States Department of Justice or a three-judge panel of the United States District Court for District of Columbia “preclear” any attempt to change “any voting qualification or prerequisite to voting, or standard, practice, or procedure with respect to voting…” in any “covered jurisdiction”. Continue Reading
Supreme Court Rules on West Virginia Redistricting
The Supreme Court decided on January 20th to stay the ruling of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in the matter of West Virginia’s new congressional districts, meaning that upcoming congressional elections will be conducted in the new districts created by West Virginia’s legislature following the 2010 Census.