Common Cause Blog :: New Life for Redistricting in California

New Life for Redistricting in California

By Jon Goldin Dubois
Posted on Thu Jun 30, 2005 at 02:21:02 PM EST

Hi folks. Switching gear to redistricting, since during the past two days we've seen progress in our effort for fair districts in California as Democratic leaders have risen to our challenge to put a redistricting reform proposal on the table. Yesterday, Common Cause President Chellie Pingree commended Senator Alan Lowenthal, Senate President Pro-Tem Don Perata, Majority Leader Gloria Romero and Democratic Caucus Chair Kevin Murray for introducing an amended version of a constitutional amendment in an effort to reform the redistricting process in California.

The introduction of the amended version of SCA 3, and yesterday's hearings on the amendment, is a first step in getting to a negotiated solution between the legislature and Governor Schwarzenegger. Back in February, Common Cause endorsed Rep. Kevin McCarthy's bill to take the redistricting process out of the hands of the legislature, and we have worked with Governor Schwarzenegger to urge the legislature to come to a compromise that takes the redistricting process out of the hands of state legislators.

Unfortunately, in his column in yesterday's Sacramento Bee, Dan Walters mischaracterizes Common Cause's position on Senator Alan Lowenthal's amended bill, indicating that Common Cause "more or less" endorsed the bill.

At a news conference on Tuesday and again yesterday in a Senate Elections Committee hearing, Common Cause President Chellie Pingree was clear that we expect to see several substantive amendments to the bill before we would support the amendment. Chellie testified yesterday morning at the hearing and outlined several of our concerns, stating:

We offer the following comments on the newly amended SCA 3 in the hope that the bill can be strengthened to ensure that a truly independent commission is in charge of the process, that the criteria for drawing districts are fair and that the process is transparent and open.

Here is Chellie's full testimony.

It takes political courage to work towards a solution that could do away with a system that dramatically favors incumbents. We have worked closely with Governor Schwarzenegger, with Rep. McCarthy and are now working with legislative Democrats to end the unfair system that allows legislators to pick their constituents and create legislative maps that are incumbent protection plans. This bill isn't perfect. But it is a start.

Tags: Redistricting (all tags)

New Life for Redistricting in California :: 1 Comment

how to destroy the agenda of Arnold Schwarzenegger

To punish the Republicans for stealing the 2000 and 2004 elections Call and email Wendy's and Outback Steakhouses, 2 big Republican Party contributors, BOYCOTT Wendy's (of Ohio) restaurant chain and Outback Steakhouse (Florida) chain until the following four situations occur:

The people elect Democrats as governor and secretary of State of Ohio and Florida and in the majority in the legislatures.

We implement vote by mail throughout the United States of America. This will prevent Republicans from vote suppression by skin color which happened electronicly and in person in the 2000 and 2004 elections. Demand that your state implement vote by mail with ballots easy to fill out and difficult to change or invalidate by Republican Party officials.

Civil servants on the state payroll should keep track of voter registrations and vote counting of mail in votes in each precinct and not companies such as Choicepoint. We need to take the Republican Party out of the business of keeping track of voter registration and counting votes.

States ban the secretary of sate from engaging in politics especially acting as a campaign official for a presidential campaign.

Spread the messages at your grocery store too by printing out the graphics and leave it in your shopping cart when you finish.

Look at this web page for other efforts.

http://www.justicefornone.com/handbills/index.htm

Thank you.

How to destroy the agenda of Arnold Schwarzenegger

and advance a progessive agenda in California.

http://www.boycott-republicans.com

The following people and companies gave at least 21,000 dollars to Arnold's
campaign and recall effort in 2003. I have named some of the more consumer oriented companies meaning they sell a product to the public that people can easily boycott and buy elsewhere. I suggest people begin by gathering your legislative goals and call these companies and tell them that they helped Arnold steal the California governorship so unless they get Arnold and the legislature to pass your desired legislation you and other people will call them and tell them you will boycott them.

and now the companies that helped install Arnold.

THE GAP clothing stores
TOYOTA TEMUCULA VALLEY
LANCASTER, SIERRA TOYOTA
JORDAN VINEYARD & WINERY
VICTORY DEALERSHIP GROUP auto dealers
WEIDER HEALTH & FITNESS
Dean Spanos SAN DIEGO CHARGERS ceo
CONANT AUTOMOTIVE RESOURCES
AMERICAN STERLING CORP commercial bank
FLETCHER JONES MANAGEMENT auto dealer
PACIFIC WEST PHARMACY
ARTISOFT, INC.
HANSEN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES
CONEXANT SYSTEMS
SCHEID VINYARDS, INC
TUTTLE-CLICK AUTOMOTIVE GROUP
FOOD 4 LESS
MERUELO ENTERPRISES
Emulex corporation
HILMAR CHEESE COMPANY INC
HANFORD HOTELS
HITCHCOCK AUTOMOTIVE RESOURCES
KEYES MOTORS
HANSEN TECHNOLOGIES

by Anonymous Citizen on Thu Jun 30, 2005 at 06:19:45 PM EST

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New Life for Redistricting in California

By Jon Goldin DuboisPosted on Thu Jun 30, 2005 at 02:21:02 PM EST

By Jon Goldin Dubois
Posted on Thu Jun 30, 2005 at 02:21:02 PM EST