What's next? Redistricting (ballot measure in California)

[Khephra]

What's next? Redistricting
By Ann E. Marimow
Mercury News Sacramento Bureau

SACRAMENTO - Emboldened by the success of his recall initiative, anti-tax crusader Ted Costa said Tuesday he plans to go back to the voters with a ballot measure to break incumbents' grip on California's Legislature and congressional delegation.

Proponents of redrawing the state's political map have tried before to overhaul the redistricting process, which is controlled by the Legislature and in 2001 protected its Democratic majority and incumbent Republicans.

But Costa, a Republican, is hoping for a boost from Gov.-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger, who campaigned to remove reapportionment from the whim of the Legislature and put it into the hands of a panel of retired judges.

``If I were in this business, I would strike right now,'' said Tim Hodson, director of the Center for California Studies at California State University-Sacramento. ``This was a political earthquake and people are upset with the status quo.''

more...........

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/7017910.htm

[goobergunch]

1. I'm not a huge fan of the current CA plan...

mainly because I believe in competitive districts. However, off-year re-redistricting is NOT the answer.

:puke: :puke: :puke:

[farmbo]

2. Where was this A**hole when Texas was being re-districted...

...by the 'whim of the (Republican) legislature'?!

The man is a Republican operative, not a "tax reformer".

And his hypocrisy is palpable.

:puke:

[NNN0LHI]

3. This is the same asshole who started the recall drive

>>>Costa, the father of the petition drive to oust Gov. Gray Davis, is collaborating with incoming Republican Assembly Leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield and U.S. Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Visalia, to put an initiative on the ballot in November 2004.<<<

I sure would like to know who is pulling this guys strings.

Don

[dusty64]

4. Hmmm, I'll give ya three guesses.

The entire redistricting process should be taken away from those who benefit from it in ALL 50 states. It is nothing more than an incumbent protection plan and it is undemocratic. There has got to be a better way as it is virtually impossible to get rid of anyone in office and that is NOT what the founders had in mind. Lets see it start in a rethug state first however.

[La_Serpiente]

5. This, now what...

I heard that they are already starting a recall drive in Arizona to get rid of Janet Napotliano. Now they want to screw around with re-districting in California?

I don't know but I'm FRIGGIN PISSED OFF!!!!

[demnan]

6. Republicans don't waste any time

You have to hand it to them, they have a well-oiled machine and a goal to take over in all fifty states. While we are sitting here arguing about whether Clark is a Democrat or not, or whether Dean is too liberal or too conservative, these guys are playing for keeps.

It starts in the precincts, city councils, state legislature and it builds. The Christian right has been infiltrating school boards across the country for a long time. Republican Congressmen will benefit from all this redistricting jazz. The House holds the purse strings and the Republicans hold the House Chairmanships. Whoever holds the majority in the House determines the agenda, what laws are formed, the rules by which they are formed, and the vote.

We've already lost 2004. It doesn't matter who's President.

[Donna Zen]

7. Yep!

And did you notice that bush garners 15% of Dem votes in his election bid, while the repubs. basically don't break ranks? It's not the Beltway Dems doing this or the DNC-DLC, this shit is being supported by registered Dems.

Poisoned.

[jiacinto]

8. They have tried that initiative before

But the answer is to put this on the ballot in other states.