Missouri governor vetoes state redistricting plan

[cal04]

Source: Reuters

Missouri's Democratic Governor Jay Nixon on Saturday vetoed a redistricting bill drafted by the Republican-dominated legislature that Democrats said was politically partisan.

He asked the state legislature to come up with another map before the May 13 end of the state legislative session.

Although Missouri's population grew by seven percent between 2000 and 2010, it increased at a slower rate than many other states, reducing its representation in Congress from nine to eight seats.

(snip)
Local media reported that many Democrats urged Nixon to veto the bill. Urban areas of Missouri such as the cities of St. Louis and Kansas City tend to vote Democratic and more rural areas Republican.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/30/us-missouri-idUSTRE73T21Q20110430?feedType=RSS&feedName=politicsNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Reuters%2FPoliticsNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Politics+News%29

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http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2011/04/30/missouri-governor-vetoes-congressional-redistricting-map/
The map vetoed by Nixon essentially eliminated the district of Democratic U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan. Carnahan praised Nixon's veto and called the proposal a "partisan gerrymander."

[groundloop]

1. Hell, what redistricting plan isn't politically motivated?

[duhneece]

2. Political is different from partisan

We must fight anti-Dem partisan gerrymandering.

[freshwest]

4. +100

[cstanleytech]

7. We need to fight all such gerrymandering

regardless of political party because in the end it hurts us all and imo atleast elected officials shouldnt be the sole ones drawing the districts up it should be a mix of the elected officials, courts and the voters in the end who should be deciding this together.

[duhneece]

9. Right

I think it is Iowa(?)'s plan that includes the elements you mention on their 'board' that draws the political boundaries. I prefer we Dems take the high road and push for such a plan.

[bjobotts]

3. Our last (repub) gov. swore he wouldn't touch Medicaid bur defunded it after election

Using a sly process known as "spend-down". If you are disabled and only get $950/mo to live on you get no Medicaid help until AFTER you spend $155/mo...each month. Incur a bill of $150 one month and then a bill of $100 the next etc and you get no Medicaid help. The poor on Medicare cannot even afford their co-pays so only go to doctor when absolutely necessary. Like having no Medicaid program at all.

Matt Blunt is gone now thank God though his dad is now in the senate enriching himself and his buddies. The condescending ignorance of MO republicans is overwhelming. Their opinion is all the 'fact' they need.

Yeah for Russ Carnahan (whose father won his US senate seat even after being deceased) keeping his district.

[freshwest]

5. That's just killing the poor. Nothing more or less.

[MasonJar]

6. Obviously the GOpers must have been in charge of the redistricting.

As much as I hate to say it, if the Dems had been, the Dem guv might not have complained.

[Judi Lynn]

8. Jay Nixon is an outstanding politician. The very best. This is such good news. K & R. n/t