Posted on 04/15/2011 11:36:16 AM PDT by Gopher Broke
RICHMOND, Va. — Gov. Bob McDonnell has vetoed the legislative redistricting plan passed by the Virginia General Assembly.
The bill outlines new district boundaries for both the Senate and the House of Delegates. The Republican governor said Friday he has concerns about the Senate plan, which he said failed to receive bipartisan support. The Democrat-controlled Senate passed the measure on a party-line vote.
The governor also said the proposed Senate districts are not compact as required by law, and that they do not properly preserve locality boundaries and communities of interest. He said he's concerned the Senate plan may also violate the one person-one vote principle of the state and U.S. constitutions.
Good for him.
The Senate plan is a partisan Joke! The house plan was approved by a large majority because it was non-partisan.
The Senate plan was narrowly approved on a party-line vote because it divides too many areas of common interest, for the purpose of electing more liberal Democrats.
One Roanoke County magisterial district (with 7 precincts) has 3 separate Senate Districts!!
This Veto was the right thing to do. Unfortunately, it also applies to the non-partisan house bill.
So, if the 2 sides cannot horse-trade into agreement, this may end up in the courts.
I was listening to WNIS-790 this a.m. about the subject. The dem-controlled VA Senate recommended a realignment that dilutes GOPer Randy Forbes’ 4th District to include black areas, because as dem Sen. Mamie Locke said, “we’d like to see another black VA member of the U.S. House.” I guess that MLK statement about “content of character” didn’t register.
Very glad Gov. McDonnell shot this down.
Now, VA Senate, work up a do-over and this time, send up a serious proposal.
Districts in Maryland (one-party rule) look like a plate of spaghetti.
And the next Maryland special session, I believe in October, is all about redistricting. Just wait until they're done with it then!
In Maryland, I expect no peaceful resolution to this situation in my lifetime.
Randy Forbes is an excellent rep. I’ve missed him since moving to Michigan. Now being represented by Rino Candice Miller. Forbes informs his people what and why in all issues. I sure miss him. There are plenty of blacks in the 4th. There is no reason to gerrymander that district.
Just fyi, I used to work for a Candice Miller who moved to the east coast. Would you happen to have a political website or office photo of Rep Candice Miller?
Awesome. This bill would have cut Virginia Beach’s representation in half (Virginia beach is VA’s largest city). The dems wanted this because Virginia Beach is one of VA’s more conservative cities, probably becaue of the stong military presence in the area.
Wow, how rare. A Republican with courage. God bless Governor McDonnell and Attorney General Cuccinelli, and God bless the Commonwealth.
Everyone talks about Chris Christie, but McDonnell is the ‘09 governor who is the most Presidential.
MD is the sickest display of government abuse and one party rule. They have basically isolated all of the conservatives/Repubs in the state, so we can never win a majority of the counties during elections - I live in the 3rd district and this should be criminal IMHO.
I also hate Sarbanes (just felt like throwing that out there).
As a personal anecdote I called up my congress-critter during the cap and tax debate - Sarbanes’ office didn’t even know what made up their district - I told them I live in Owings Mills and they said oh - you are in Dutch Ruppersberger’s district - how sad is that? There is something seriously wrong with this situation!
Is that the present district? Or the new one that was vetoed?
Kathy Kastors Tampa District rund down highways and over bridges of 3 counties in order to cover the rat “base” zones.
The arrogance of the Dem party can only exist in MD because of the federal taxpayers' money that pours into the state, mostly via federal workers' salaries and federal contracts in Montgomery and Prince George's counties. Without federal tax money (other people's money) Maryland, with its anti-business, pro-welfare, policies would be one of the poorest states in the union.
This shouldn’t ever even be political. With the advanced information technology we have today, a program can objectively and efficiently parcel out the districts in compact blocks based on population. Of course, this would disadvantage DemocRATs, who are the worst gerrymanderers.
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