South Carolina
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Posted on 06/17/2011 7:00:44 PM PDT by randita
House approves redistricting plans, Dems plan to sue (South Carolina)
Plan going to Senate soon creates state’s seventh congressional district centered in Horry County
By GINA SMITH
June 15, 2011
The state House of Representatives signed off on a plan Tuesday to redraw its legislative lines and create a seventh congressional district, centered in Horry County and running along the North Carolina border.
The plan requires one more perfunctory vote before heading to the Senate.
But some are disappointed with the plan, including the state Democratic Party, whose chairman plans to sue.
The plan House members approved:
• Creates two new S.C. House districts in Georgetown and Richland counties that are “majority minority,” meaning the majority of voters in the districts are racial minorities. In the Midlands, the plan affects Rep. Mia Butler Garrick, D-Richland, whose District 79 currently is made up of Northeast Richland County and a slice of Kershaw County. The plan approved places all of Butler’s district in Richland County. An amendment to retain more white voters in the district, proposed by Garrick, was voted down Tuesday.
• Eliminates one majority minority district in Charleston County — represented by Rep. Robert Brown, a Democrat — because it has lost African-American population. Under the new plan approved by the House, the state would have 30 majority minority districts, instead of the current 29.
• Merges districts with shrinking population in Laurens, Greenville, Pickens, Anderson, Colleton and Jasper counties.
• Creates four new districts in the growing counties of Beaufort, York, Horry and Berkeley.
“We did our best to keep cities, towns and counties whole and be fair to all House members,” said Rep. Jim Harrison, R-Richland, who oversaw the House’s efforts to redraw the district lines — a task that must be performed every 10 years using the latest census data reflecting how the state’s population has shifted.
The House plan draws eight legislators into four districts, pitting them against each other in primaries next year. The eight are four Democrats and four Republicans.
“This plan is fair,” said Rep. Harry Ott, D-Calhoun, the House’s minority leader. “It’s not perfect, and we’ve got a few Democrats who find themselves in collapsed districts. But there’s an equal number of Republicans who find themselves in the same situation.”
One of those Democrats is Rep. Denny Neilson of Darlington County, the House’s longest-serving member. Under the new plan, Neilson would have to run against her fellow incumbent and Democrat, Rep. Robert Williams.
“No one wants to run against an incumbent. Plus, Robert is my friend,” said Neilson, who has been in the House since 1984 and plans to seek reelection. “But the Pee Dee has lost population. It’s part of the process. I understand.”
Dick Harpootlian, chairman of the S.C. Democratic Party, said the party or a group of Democrats will challenge the proposed new maps in court, contending they create too many majority minority districts.
The gist of the lawsuit, he said, would be to encourage the U.S. Justice Department to approve a S.C. plan that moves African-American voters out of majority-black districts to other districts, giving them more sway over who is elected.
Democrats long have contended that Republicans try to put as many reliably Democratic, minority voters as possible in districts, seeking to ensure that other districts are overwhelmingly white and more likely to elect a Republican. Districts with a mix of races are more likely to elect a Democrat, Democrats contend.
“The Republicans are conducting a concerted effort to re-segregate our state,” Harpootlian said, contending majority minority districts are a dated notion no longer needed. “It was a remedial measure that was very much needed because, back then, white people wouldn’t vote for black people. That’s not the case anymore.”
Redistricting - SC.
The Communists Party (formally the democratic party) at it again using their communists courts to get the cry babies their way. Poor boys!
Were this the Republicans, they'd be calling a press conference to congratulate the Dems on their victory.
The extremely, over-the-top, out-in-orbit patriots in this state are about to eliminate the most racist pig in South Carolina - Jim “high-goosestepping” Clyburn.
Oh, the horror.
Tell Wisconsin about it.
If the Dems plan to sue, it must be a good map.
Did Linda help the ‘rats?
Given the screwing about to happen in IL (min -5 R) we need to make certain every opportunity we have to screw these traitorous bastards over is taken.
The place is a cesspool.
Yup. Dick da Dem is suing because he doesn't want more Blacks holding office ! And they call the GOP racist.
At best we’ll gain a single seat in SC (it’s already 5R-1D), but the big problem is that given the demographics, in a bad GOP year, the Dems could grab at least 3 or 4 of those 7 House seats SC will have after 2013 (we almost dropped to 3 in 2008 as it was). By giving the Democrats 2 Black plurality/majority districts, we could ensure we will easily hold the remaining 5 without challenge.
Democrats are NEVER happy.
God, I am so sick of hearing about how liberals/Democrats/unions are going to SUE because they lost a political battle.
These people are truly disgusting. I cannot abide them. They are like junior high girls, just big whining crybabies.
Revolting.
The ‘Rats seem divided about this. The state House voted 83-to-25 in support, which means a number of ‘Rats supported it. The state Senate voted 37-to-1 for the new lines. Maybe the lawsuit won’t happen.
Now, where have I heard that before? : )
Drawing two black-majority CDs in SC not only will guarantee us a 5-2 majority for the next 10 years, it would force whichever body (be it legislative or judicial) that draws the lines after the 2020 Census to draw two black-majority CDs or else violate the anti-retrogression requirement of the Voting Rights Act, so it pretty much guarantees a 5-2 GOP majority for *20* years.
Sounds to me like it’s the state leg maps they are pissed about not the congressional map. They want to spread out the Black vote because maj min districts are “re-segregating the country” ie eliminating white democrats they need to have a chance at a majority.
South Carolina
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The dims aren’t worried about electing minorities, they are worried about electing Democrats. SC has begun to display a capacity to vote for minority candidates who run as conservatives. The dims can’t stand that. They would much rather see a white Republican than a black Republican.
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