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
Category Archives: Rose Report
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
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
Pitney on Young Voters
Professor Pitney was referenced in a brief article at KCBS 740 AM’s (Bay Area) website on why Republicans in the California Assembly do not want 16 and 17 year olds to be able to preregister to vote for when they are 18. Pitney said: Republicans oppose the bill since younger people are generally more liberal… Continue Reading