AZ redistricting fight goes to Supreme Court

[alp227]

Source: Arizona Daily Star

PHOENIX — A bid by state lawmakers to take back the power to draw congressional lines is legally flawed and should be rejected, the lead attorney for the Independent Redistricting Commission told the nation’s high court.

Mary O’Grady acknowledged the U.S. Constitution says the “times, places and manner” of electing members of Congress “shall be prescribed in each state by the Legislature thereof.” But in legal papers filed with the Supreme Court, O’Grady said that doesn’t necessarily mean the 90 people who serve in the Arizona House and Senate.

O’Grady pointed out the Arizona Constitution, while setting up the two legislative bodies, also says the people “reserve the power to propose laws and amendments to the (Arizona) constitution and to enact or reject such laws and amendments at the polls, independently of the Legislature.”

She said that’s exactly what happened in 2000, when voters created the redistricting commission: They constitutionally took away the power that lawmakers had since statehood to draw both congressional and legislative lines.

Read more: http://azstarnet.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/az-redistricting-fight-goes-to-supreme-court/article_7de5039a-4dc9-50af-8f5f-c6288d738c2c.html

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this case is Arizona State Legislature v. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission et al. Covered by Ballot Access News.

[sofa king]

1. Good luck on that one.

* The Constitution specifically uses the word, "Legislature;"

* Strictly interpreting the decision along those lines will ensure that gerrymandering in Arizona can continue;

* There are not five honest people left on the Supreme Court.

I don't see any reason to know a single thing more about it. The rich and powerful will make sure the decision lands in favor of the rich and powerful, as they always do, and there is little reason to think otherwise.