Steve Chessin, a member of the California Democratic Party Executive Board has a piece at the California Progress Report supporting the Voters First Initiative. While acknowledging that Voters First may not deliver all it promises, he supports the reform effort: Experience with redistricting reform in other states shows that it doesn’t change much. A few… Continue Reading
Author Archives: Rose Institute
Taxpayer Advocate Believes Flaws Exist in “Voters First!”
PolitikerCa.Com ran an article mentioning that Ted Costa, CEO of People’s Advocate, a government watchdog organization, finds that the “Voters First!” initiative has flaws that make it not as effective as claimed. He believes that the initiative would have to be amended in the future to reach its full potential. Costa said he’s concerned about… Continue Reading
California Part of “Dirty Dozen” on Redistricting
According to George Skelton of the Los Angeles Times, the Democratic Leadership Council has named California as being among twelve states whose gerrymandering of elections has suppressed voter turnout. The Democratic Leadership Council came to fame around the time Bill Clinton was running for office as an organization of moderate democrats promoting “the third way”… Continue Reading
Pitney on Obama and Independent Voters
The Christian Science Monitor recently ran an article on the subject of independent voters and the 2008 election. The article analyzes the challenges and advantages each candidate has in the race. Pitney addresses Obama’s current 4% lead in national polls: The narrowness of his lead “is a sign that the public isn’t quite comfortable with… Continue Reading
Pitney on Ron Paul Conceding
A quote from Professor Pitney recently appeared in a Los Angeles Times article on the subject of whether Ron Paul will concede the Republican Presidential race. Pitney comments on whether Ron Paul might cause a schism in the Republican party: “It depends on his definition of libertarianism, which is a very elastic term,” said John… Continue Reading
California Redistricting Initiative Certified for Ballot
The Sacramento Bee reports that the Voter’s First Initiative was certified as having the requisite number of verified signatures. The measure, written by California Common Cause, would strip the Legislature of the power to draw state Senate, Assembly and Board of Equalization districts, which occurs after the census every 10 years. That power would shift… Continue Reading
Pennsylvania Redistricting Bill Makes it Out of Senate Committee
The York Daily Record reports that the redistricting bill currently being hashed out in the Pennsylvania Senate and Assembly was voted out of its Senate committee to the full Senate. It will not mean much, however, unless the comparable bill in the Assembly is not held in committee. One Senator pointed out that the bill… Continue Reading
“Voters First!” Democratic Supporters and Detractors
An interesting situation is developing as more Democrats and Democratic leaning organizations establish their opinion on the California Redistricting Reform Initiative known as the “Voters First!” initiative. While the Democratic Party of California came out against it, prominent Democrats including Gray Davis, Bill Bogaard (Mayor of of Pasadena), Los Angeles City Controller Laura Chick, as… Continue Reading
Philadelphia Inquirer Editorial on Redistricting
A recent editorial in the Philadelphia Inquirer about Pennsylvania’s redistricting reform battle mainly consisted of these two pictures: The editorial said: There is no clearer illustration of why the legislature needs to quit stalling and pass a bill to implement nonpartisan redistricting, now. The current process allows politicians to divide communities to protect their incumbency… Continue Reading
Gray Davis Endorses California Redistricting Initiative
Gray Davis, the former governor of California, recently endorsed the California “Voters First” initiative that aims to place responsibility for redistricting with an independent commission. Gray Davis had this to say: Everyone in Sacramento wants a safe-seat. However, safe-seats generally produce legislators who are less accountable to voters, not more. Under the current rules legislators… Continue Reading