Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Tx4obama

(36,974 posts)
Wed Jan 16, 2013, 06:25 PM Jan 2013

Dem bill would require independent commissions to redraw congressional districts


Dem bill would require independent commissions to redraw congressional districts

Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) and six other House Democrats have put forward legislation that would prevent state-level politicians from redrawing congressional districts. Instead, they would have be redrawn after each nationwide Census by an independent commission.

Cohen said his bill would help prevent the partisan redistricting of states, which many Democrats and Republicans have said creates districts that favor one party or another and allows hyper-partisan candidates to get elected.

"It's time to take politics out of the redistricting process," Cohen said. "Congress is so polarized today that we're unable to find common ground on the major issues facing our country.

"Instead of solving our nation's problems, Congress is just kicking the can down the road and waiting until the next election for answers. I believe that if we eliminate the gerrymandering of districts we will help get more accomplished for our country."

-snip-

Full article here: http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/277607-dem-bill-would-require-independent-commissions-to-redraw-congressional-districts#ixzz2IBA4StKa




17 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Dem bill would require independent commissions to redraw congressional districts (Original Post) Tx4obama Jan 2013 OP
We tried that in Ohio this year and it got voted down n/t doc03 Jan 2013 #1
Rep. Cohen is a recipient of the effin' repigs' gerrymandering indepat Jan 2013 #2
Whatever.... SouthernDonkey Jan 2013 #16
This is long, long, long overdue RussBLib Jan 2013 #3
Of course they wouldn't agree to it sakabatou Jan 2013 #4
We need to have that conversation too. 2naSalit Jan 2013 #5
Good idea Proud Liberal Dem Jan 2013 #6
It's already the case in Iowa. That's why there are actually SharonAnn Jan 2013 #13
Why political parties ever got to write their own maps never made much sense to me Proud Liberal Dem Jan 2013 #17
Damn pity that "good government" is derided in the beltway as annabanana Jan 2013 #7
The over/under on how many Republicans will support this is zero. Scuba Jan 2013 #8
I'll take the under lobodons Jan 2013 #11
This is long overdue, and so needed Hekate Jan 2013 #9
Democrats should have done this when they controlled the House. UnrepentantLiberal Jan 2013 #10
There's SCOTUS in the way garthranzz Jan 2013 #12
IANA Constitutional scholar, but... OswegoAtheist Jan 2013 #15
Deja Vu! xxxsdesdexxx Jan 2013 #14

indepat

(20,899 posts)
2. Rep. Cohen is a recipient of the effin' repigs' gerrymandering
Wed Jan 16, 2013, 06:44 PM
Jan 2013

malfeasance and nonsense: while his seat is still safe, all other seats will safely be in beastly repig hands.

SouthernDonkey

(256 posts)
16. Whatever....
Thu Jan 17, 2013, 03:01 AM
Jan 2013

I like Steve Cohen! He stood up for the Air Traffic Controllers union, when Mica of Florida was trying to kick our ass over some labor legislation issues, and he is consistently re elected in his district by a majority black constituancy. Whom I think he represents quite well. Obviously they do too! Not too bad for a white guy. And the best thing, he's not a member of the Ford family!

RussBLib

(8,950 posts)
3. This is long, long, long overdue
Wed Jan 16, 2013, 06:51 PM
Jan 2013

If it could pass, it could really go a long way to restoring some faith in government. The Republicans will never agree to it. It should be forced down their repressed throats.

IF

2naSalit

(85,639 posts)
5. We need to have that conversation too.
Wed Jan 16, 2013, 07:11 PM
Jan 2013

And eliminating the possibility of gerrymandering has to happen ASAP... before another election comes around.

Proud Liberal Dem

(24,338 posts)
6. Good idea
Wed Jan 16, 2013, 07:19 PM
Jan 2013

Should be the case in all 50 states IMHO, esp. if Republicans are going to try to "rig" certain states for Republicans.

SharonAnn

(13,756 posts)
13. It's already the case in Iowa. That's why there are actually
Wed Jan 16, 2013, 11:25 PM
Jan 2013

switches from R to D or vice versa from time to time. Districts are competitive.

Proud Liberal Dem

(24,338 posts)
17. Why political parties ever got to write their own maps never made much sense to me
Thu Jan 17, 2013, 09:40 AM
Jan 2013

Elections are *supposed* to be able to be competitive. State/congressional districts were never AFAIK meant to become, essentially, fiefdoms for one particular party or politician where they basically were so "protected" from being responsive to their citizens and that they could basically serve at their own pleasure for as long as they want (or until they die, whichever came first).

garthranzz

(1,330 posts)
12. There's SCOTUS in the way
Wed Jan 16, 2013, 09:13 PM
Jan 2013

Even if the bill passes Congress, will it stand against SCOTUS?

Long overdue, though. Long overdue.

OswegoAtheist

(609 posts)
15. IANA Constitutional scholar, but...
Thu Jan 17, 2013, 02:22 AM
Jan 2013

Article I, section 4: "The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing Senators." Bolding mine, obviously. My layman's reading of it suggests that Congress can alter any districting laws in place within a state.

Oswego "my personal preference would be to get rid of districts altogether" Atheist

xxxsdesdexxx

(213 posts)
14. Deja Vu!
Thu Jan 17, 2013, 12:41 AM
Jan 2013

Last edited Fri Jan 18, 2013, 12:38 AM - Edit history (1)

I've been thinking about this for some time and when Rachel Maddow reminded me on her show last night I thought to myself why the hell can't we have nationwide redistricting done by independent commissions, similar to California, so that all congressional races are fair and so that everyone has a chance to win? The other thing that must be done, is for the electoral college to go bye bye. The president must be elected by popular vote. We really must do both of these things. If we continue to allow partisans to draw districts, and if we keep the electoral college, we will soon have a situation in which one presidential candidate could have more of the popular vote in 1 state than the other presidential candidate(s) and then lose that state due to that state's law in how they grant their electoral votes.

What can we do to stop this?

Latest Discussions»Retired Forums»2016 Postmortem»Dem bill would require in...