Long-time readers may recall that I have a particular obsession interest in mid-decade redistricting efforts, generally known as re-redistricting, which have become a staple of right-wing lawmaking the past couple of years.
To review for a moment, it wasn’t unusual for states to have partisan mayhem in the 19th century, when parties would try to redraw congressional district lines every time a legislature would change party lines. It’s why, for about 100 years now, both parties, across the country, agreed that doing redistricting once a decade (after the census) is more than enough.
That is, until about two years ago when Republicans decided that system wasn’t working for them anymore. In Colorado, Texas, and Georgia, Republican state lawmakers, usually driven by party leaders in DC, decided to re-redistrict after winning control of their respective state legislatures. (Colorado’s stunt was overturned in court, Texas’ is still in litigation, and Georgia’s will be challenged by a lawsuit any day now.)
It’s prompted one member of Congress to try and put a stop to this nonsense once and for all. It’s about time.
On the heels of the bitter Texas redistricting battle, a leading conservative House Democrat is going to war over the issue, introducing a bill to prohibit politicians from creating Congressional boundaries and to prevent mid-decade redrawing.
Rep. John Tanner (Tenn.), a leading Blue Dog Democrat who saw several of his Texas colleagues lose in November because of redistricting, will launch his legislation this week. The veteran Member is seeking to create national standards for redistricting that include the creation of nonpartisan commissions in each state to redraw Congressional district lines just once every 10 years.
Tanner said he’s bringing his bill forward now because redistricting has become an overly political process, leading to a system that favors the extreme party wings and locks out input from average Americans. Majority parties in individual states can dictate election outcomes and set up a system in which Congressional districts no longer contain diversity — ideological and otherwise, he said.
“Politics has hijacked our democracy,” Tanner said in an interview. “It’s become an inside ball game — basically, the people be damned.”
Excellent idea. Tanner’s initiative could reduce gerrymandering, make congressional races more competitive, and eliminate re-redistricting schemes altogether. Uniform standards, neutral commissions, a healthier process for everyone. It’s an excellent idea that is long overdue.
Indeed, I like the details of the plan so much, I can’t think of anything wrong with it.
* States would be required to establish independent commissions of at least five members to review new census data and come up with one, or several, plans to present to their legislatures for approval.
* The map would be approved unamended by the Legislature and governor. If they can’t agree, the map would go to court.
* The commissions would comprise an equal number of members appointed by the minority and majority floor leaders in the two state legislative houses. A majority of those members must appoint an additional member, who would serve as chairman.
* Those commissioners must be registered voters for at least four years, but cannot have held elective or appointed office, been an employee of a political campaign or worked for a political party. No member of the commission can run for the House until after the districts are redrawn the next time, or in 10 years.
Naturally, Tanner’s convinced his idea won’t go anywhere.
Tanner acknowledged that the bill faces little chance of passage this Congress, saying: “This leadership in the House will not let it see the light of day. They will probably try to choke it on the front end.”
True, but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad idea.