Governor must seek 2006 redistricting, not wait until 2010

Fair Districts Now ^ | 5-2-2005

[GOPXtreme20]

No more delays

Governor must seek 2006 redistricting, not wait until 2010

5-2-2005

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's latest backtrack concerns his redistricting plan that would make congressional and legislative races more competitive by eliminating the current gerrymandered system. During a visit to Fontana last week, the governor announced that he might be willing to wait until 2010 for this reform rather than 2006, which calls into question whether he will now bother calling a special election for the fall.

One of the backers of the redistricting plan, Los Angeles businessman Bill Mundell, expressed anger in a Los Angeles Daily News interview. "We believed the governor when he told us that the timeline was non-negotiable," he said. "The people want redistricting reform now. The people have spoken. The question now is: Is the governor listening?"

It's been a tough few weeks for the governor, as his pension, budget and education reform plans have run up against well-funded and bitter union opposition. That was a sign that the governor hit the right targets, but he has softened or backed away from each of those plans. The opposition to redistricting is less widespread, although the political establishment, Democrat and Republican, is leery of changing the way representatives are elected.

Yet redistricting is a crucial reform for the long-term health of California's political system. The current districts are a conspiracy of sorts, with both parties agreeing to carve out safe seats for everyone. Democrats are happy because it locks them into a majority, but Republicans OK'd the plan because it keeps them from having to fight to hold onto any of their seats.

The political establishment "carried it too far," Mr. Mundell said. "There was not a seat out of 153 seats that changed hands" in the last election. It's not a stretch to refer to California's "Soviet-style" elections, a term Mr. Mundell often uses. People vote, just as they did in the Soviet Union, but the winners are mostly decided in advance.

The initiative would take the formation of districts out of the hands of self-interested legislators and place it in the hands of a panel of retired judges. There's no way to eliminate partisanship, but the initiative puts tight limits on how those districts are created (i.e., they must be compact and contiguous). It doesn't proscribe a particular outcome, but it would inject new life into the electoral process and create a new market for ideas, Mr. Mundell argues. We think he's right.

The governor ought to insist that this reform be placed on the ballot without delay.

The Orange County Register

[jocon307]

If this story does not show the fecklessness of the Republican party I don't know what does. Most pols probably wouldn't care if the entire country and gov't were split 50-50, they could spend their days spending OUR money and leave all the tough decisions to our Robed Masters in the Judiciary.

They practically put the EU weasels to shame.