Republicans rip Arizona congressional map

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Republicans rip Arizona congressional map
Mary Jo Pitzl - Arizona Republic

Led by Gov. Jan Brewer, the state's Republican congressional delegation Wednesday unleashed a barrage of criticism at a proposed new congressional map that would govern elections for the next decade.

Their message was consistent: The preliminary map from the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission gives Democrats congressional dominance, hurts Republicans and flouts constitutional requirements for redistricting.

But Democrats pushed back, noting that four of the map's nine congressional districts have strong GOP advantages, while Democrats are favored in only two. The remaining three districts are deemed competitive, based on a formula that looks at voter behavior in 2008 and 2010.

"This gerrymandered map was drawn with an undeniable partisan purpose," U.S. Rep. Ben Quayle, R-Ariz., said in a statement.

The GOP got FOUR solid districts, the Democrats got TWO. Three other districts are considered swing districts.

Not only is the GOP complaining. The Republican Attorney General, Tom Horne, is trying get the Redistricting Commission Chair (who's required by law to be an independent) and the two Democrats on it charged with conspiring to hold "secret" committee meetings, in violation of Open Meetings Law. Republican Governor Jan Brewer is considering asking our Republican Legislature to kick the independent and the two democrats off the commission. And Tea Party Activists are taking videos of witnesses before the commission providing public input in an clear attempt to intimidate.

I personally think the GOP got the better deal, but they think, "It must be A PARTISAN MAP! After all the Independent and the two Democrats supported it!".

(For the record, the Commission vote was 3-1. One Republican voted against it and the other one abstained.)

So much for an INDEPENDENT Redistricting Commission. :sarcasm:

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/10/05/20111005arizona-congressional-map-republicans-critical.html#ixzz1a1ZUhXLX