Archive for April, 2010

Welcome to this week’s edition of “REDMAP Rundown,” a synopsis of redistricting news brought to you by the RSLC’s REDistricting MAjority Project (REDMAP).  This weekly update gives you the latest on what those in the beltway, and across the country, are saying about the impending reapportionment and redistricting process.

In this week’s “REDMAP Rundown,” Illinois Dems run into opposition from one of their own, Florida takes some initiative, Texas is still looking good, the Mississippi SOS wants his state to do better and Colorado Democrats keep it partisan.

The Chicago Tribune is reporting, “As lawmakers in Springfield prepare to vote on a proposal to change the way state House and Senate districts are drawn, Gov. Pat Quinn today said he’s not a fan of the plan his fellow Democrats drafted.  The governor said that he doesn’t see the proposed changes ‘as moving the ball forward all that much’ and worries districts will be crafted to protect sitting lawmakers instead of reflecting a particular geographic area.  ‘It’s awfully complicated,’ Quinn said. ‘I’m not sure if it’s a reform or not, to be honest.’”

In Colorado, “a House committee … backed legislation that would repeal the criteria courts consider when weighing in on congressional district boundaries.  The controversial measure — House Bill 1408 — is opposed by some Republicans who believe Democrats are attempting to influence redistricting with partisan politics when the process should be a completely non-partisan issue.”

And in Florida, the “Legislature’s answer to a pair of citizen initiatives on redistricting … cleared the Florida House by a partisan vote Monday.  The proposed state constitutional amendment (HJR 7231), which House Democrats said would undermine the initiatives, passed 74-40 — two more than the minimum needed to get on the ballot.  It goes to the Senate next and is expected to pass with help from at least a couple Democrats. They’ve joined Republicans in arguing the measure is needed to ‘clarify’ the citizen initiatives and keep intact changes in redistricting procedures over the last 20 years that have increased minority representation in legislative and congressional districts.”

Florida State Sen. Mike Haridopolos talks about redistricting and what the Florida legislature is doing to protect voters. VIDEO HERE.

Love it or hate it, Alan Grayson’s view on redistricting.

“Okay, Texans. The legislators you select this November will be charged with re-drawing their own legislative districts in 2011, to reflect population shifts from the 2010 census.  If history is a guide, they also will reflect the desires of whichever party happens to be in charge at the time.  As things stand now, and unless there’s some huge surprises, that will be the Republicans. They hold an 18-13 edge over Democrats in the Senate, and are currently at 77-73 in the House.”

Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann “said he is disappointed in the state’s response to the census. … The census leads to redistricting and Hosemann said, ‘The issues are pretty straightforward. First of all, and most important to me, is that we maintain the one person, one vote requirements. That sounds simple, but in redistricting, the Legislature has 122 House seats and 52 Senate seats, and those need to be allocated, in my mind, to reflect an equal number of citizens that they represent.’”