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
Category Archives: Redistricting
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
California Democrats Against Redistricting Initiative
The California Democratic party recently decided that it will be officially against the California Voters First Initiative that proposes changes to how districts are created in California. The California Democratic Party, ratifying yesterday’s vote by its Resolutions Committee, is now officially on record against it. The CDP’s E-Board defeated it by a 9-1 margin at… Continue Reading
Florida Redistricting Reform Efforts
An editorial appeared recently in the TCPalm, the paper for the Treasure Coast and Palm Beaches area in Florida, relating to the subject of statewide redistricting reform. Apparently, Common Cause and the League of Woman Voters have joined together to put an amendment to the Florida constitution on the ballot in 2010 (these organizations joined… Continue Reading
Pennsylvania Redistricting Reform
The Pennsylvania Legislature has been battling the last couple of weeks over the first step towards approval of a state constitutional amendment that would put redistricting in the hands of an independent non-partisan body. The legislature has to approve the bill in two different session and and put it towards a statewide popular vote in… Continue Reading
Michigan Ballot Proposal
A ballot proposal in Michigan that would radically reform just about every aspect of the state government (including how districts are drawn) is hoping to gather 380,000 signatures by July 7th. The voter initiative would put redistricting in the hands of a non-partisan panel, as well as make changes to the size of the legislature.… Continue Reading
New California Assembly Speaker on Redistricting Reform Possibility
Karen Bass, the recently chosen Speaker of the Assembly, talked with the Los Angeles Times recently about the possibility of redistricting reform in California. She considers an independent commission reasonable, but takes issue with the possibility of reduced diversity among the legislature: What does concern me, though, is maintaining the diversity of the house. And… Continue Reading
Nunez Campaign Cash Could Aid Redistricting Effort
James Sweeney has a retrospective on former Speaker Fabian Nunez in the San Diego Union Tribune. Sweeney notes that Nunez leaves office with a large balance of campaign funds that could be used to assist his redistricting proposal. Núñez will leave the Democratic Party with more than $4 million for future Assembly races, party spokesman… Continue Reading
Modesto Bee on the Need for Redistricting Reform
Ben van der Meer has an interesting piece in the Modesto Bee, explaining the need for redistricting reform in California: If you need to know why redistricting reform matters, take a look at next month’s primary ballot. Around the Northern San Joaquin Valley, there isn’t a single contested seat in any of the party races.… Continue Reading
Responses to Tony Quinn’s Redistricting Analysis
From Bill Cavala’s article on California Progress Report: “Republican analyst and redistricting expert, Tony Quinn (he was a lead player in the 1980’s redistricting process) has written a thoughtful column on the eve of new efforts at redistricting “reform .” Continue Reading