2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumDem 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
doc03
(35,078 posts)indepat
(20,899 posts)malfeasance and nonsense: while his seat is still safe, all other seats will safely be in beastly repig hands.
SouthernDonkey
(256 posts)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)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
sakabatou
(42,070 posts)Cheating or rigging the system seems to be their only choice.
2naSalit
(85,639 posts)And eliminating the possibility of gerrymandering has to happen ASAP... before another election comes around.
Proud Liberal Dem
(24,338 posts)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)switches from R to D or vice versa from time to time. Districts are competitive.
Proud Liberal Dem
(24,338 posts)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).
annabanana
(52,791 posts)"googoo"
Scuba
(53,475 posts)lobodons
(1,290 posts)I'll take the under
Hekate
(89,977 posts)Kicking
UnrepentantLiberal
(11,700 posts)Now it's just symbolic.
garthranzz
(1,330 posts)Even if the bill passes Congress, will it stand against SCOTUS?
Long overdue, though. Long overdue.
OswegoAtheist
(609 posts)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)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?