A big part of the reason that the California Legislature doesn't solve the state's toughest problems is lawmakers aren't accountable to voters because they come from safe districts. These gerrymandered districts essentially guarantee noncompetitive elections. But that could change if redistricting authority is taken from the legislators and given to an independent commission.

We argue in our editorial today that time is running out in this legislative session, and voters should pressure their Assembly members and state senators to put a redistricting bill on the ballot. Voters will have the final say on redistricting.

The editorial also contains contact information for legislative leaders and local legislators. Let them know you support redistricting reform.

Sacramento Bee columnist Dan Walters also writes about redistricting reform today.

Posted by Jim Boren at 7:24 AM | Permalink

If the Legislature would give up its power to draw district lines, it would make our elected officials in Sacramento and Washington, D.C., more accountable. The biggest change would come in state government, which is run by legislators who can't be beaten in an election. It's time to turn redistricting over to an independent commission.

Here's my column that was published today about California's congressional delegation trying to block reform.

Posted by Jim Boren at 9:12 PM | Permalink

The more that this much-needed reform gets linked to other issues -- term limits right now is being talked about as a combo deal with redistricting -- the less likely that it will be successful. Redistricting reform should be judged on its own merits, not whether it is tied to loosening term limits.

Now redistricting reform has a new enemy: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who is concerned that Democrats in Washignton could lose their House majority if congressional and legislative districts in California are fairly drawn. Now that's taking an undemocratic position.

Tony Quinn, co-editor of the California Target Book, a nonpartisan analysis of legislative and congressional elections, has an interesting take on this issue in a commentary in the Los Angeles Times.

Posted by Jim Boren at 11:34 AM | Permalink

Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez and Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata say the public doesn't care about redistricting reform. Judging by my phone calls and emails, that isn't true. But it's not me you must persuade, it's them.

So if you believe in competitive legislative and congressional elections, let them know.

You can call Nunez at (916) 319-2046, or email him at Assemblymember.Nunez@assembly.ca.gov

You can call Perata at (916) 651-4009, or email him at Senator.Perata@sen.ca.gov

Here's today's editorial talking about this issue.

Posted by Jim Boren at 9:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

A lot of Democrats are complaining that a gerrymandered district protected Republican Congressman George Radanovich of Mariposa from defeat. They are probably correct that Democrat TJ Cox of Fresno would have had a much better chance against Radanovich if the 19th Congressional District were more competitive. But Democrats need to look in the mirror when it comes to redistricting reform.

The Democrats ran the campaign against the failed redistricting reform proposition in the 2005 special election and then Democratic leaders killed bills in the state Legislature earlier this year, despite claiming they wanted reform.

Cox ran in a district he never had a chance in because of his own party.The Democrats say that they'll try to fix redistricting in the Legislature this year. Don't count on it. They've been lying about that for years.

Here's my column of today discussing how a gerrymandered district saved Radanovich in Tuesday's election.

Posted by Jim Boren at 7:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

The Legislature had no intention of passing a redistricting reform bill, even after the state Senate resurrected the idea on Wednesday. But on Thursday, the last day to act to get the measure on the November ballot, the Assembly adjourned because the Senate did not "transmit" the bill in time for Assembly members to vote on it.

This "technical" problem occurred even though we're in the 21st century and the bill package is not being delivered by pony express. The Senate clerk only had to walk it a few yards over to the Assembly clerk. But somehow that didn't happen, although seven other bills with no time element happened to be transmitted to the Assembly.

Wouldn't it be nice if they were honest and just said they refuse to let go of their power to draw the boundaries of their own districts? But they say they should turn redistricting power over to an independent commission and then promise to do it -- just not right now. . . or maybe never.

Posted by Jim Boren at 11:56 AM | Permalink

The State Senate has given new life to a redistricting reform proposal that was considered dead on Tuesday. In a stunning reverse of field on Wednesday, the Senate voted 27-11 to support Senate Constitutional Amendment 3. It now must be passed by the Assembly if it is going to go on the Nov. 7 ballot.

Fortunately, the Senate had the good sense to overrule legislative leaders, who tried to kill redistricting reform until at least next year. Will Assembly members be just as wise as their Senate counterparts?

Posted by Jim Boren at 2:55 PM | Permalink

Remember when legislative leaders promised to put a redistricting reform measure on the November ballot? Well, they were just kidding. Today, they killed a compromise plan aimed at meeting a Friday deadline to put the proposal before voters. It would have linked redistricting reform to a change in term limits. Voters would have the final say on both issues.

But with the Legislature's latest action, it's no wonder that the public is so cynical about politics.

This is what the Democratic and Republican leaders said in a joint statement:

"There is no question about the need to reform the redistricting process and our current system of term limits in California. But given the tremendous impact any proposal crafted by the Legislature this year could have on politics and policymaking in our state, we feel it is the best course not to pursue a sweeping reform package in the waning hours of the legislative session. Make no mistake, our caution in crafting a reform package this year does not in any way diminish our determination to fix a broken system. We stand committed to revisiting redistricting and term limits reform in the next legislative session - to once and for all craft responsible, bipartisan political reforms for the people of California."

What they didn't tell you is the reason that this issue has come down to the "waning hours" of the session is because they dodged it all year. They are being dishonest about their motives.

Here are the people you can blame: Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, D-Oakland; Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles; Senate Republican Leader Dick Ackerman of Fullerton, and Assembly Republican Leader George Plescia of La Jolla. Of course, it was Perata and Nunez who really killed this issue. They control the votes in both houses and they could have put redistricting reform on the ballot if they wanted.

Posted by Jim Boren at 3:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

It appears that California legislators may finally be ready to give up control of drawing the boundaries of their own districts. Assembly and Senate leaders are ready to put a constitutional measure on the ballot in November that would give redistricting power to an independent 11-member commission.

The Associated Press reported today that an amendment to the California Constitution has enough votes to pass the Senate. It also should pass the Assembly and then go on the November ballot. The voters would have to approve the change.

“I don’t see a whole lot of opposition to this at this point,” Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez told the AP. “It’s a clear effort to try and do the right thing by way of allowing for broader citizenship participation in the political process.”

Last November, California voters rejected a redistricting reform plan that got overshadowed by a power struggle between Democrats and Republicans. But this measure seems to have bi-partisan support, which increases its chances of passing this November.

Continue reading "Redistricting reform gains new life" »

Posted by Jim Boren at 12:05 PM | Permalink