Redistricting reform gains new life

By Jim Boren on June 19, 2006 12:05 PM

It appears that California legislators may finally be ready to give up control of drawing the boundaries of their own districts. Assembly and Senate leaders are ready to put a constitutional measure on the ballot in November that would give redistricting power to an independent 11-member commission.

The Associated Press reported today that an amendment to the California Constitution has enough votes to pass the Senate. It also should pass the Assembly and then go on the November ballot. The voters would have to approve the change.

“I don’t see a whole lot of opposition to this at this point,” Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez told the AP. “It’s a clear effort to try and do the right thing by way of allowing for broader citizenship participation in the political process.”

Last November, California voters rejected a redistricting reform plan that got overshadowed by a power struggle between Democrats and Republicans. But this measure seems to have bi-partisan support, which increases its chances of passing this November.

Gerrymandered district's aren't new, of course. But the California Legislature turned the process into a fixed system in 2001 when both major parties cut a deal to not compete for the seats each already held. This is how well it worked: There were 153 legislative and congressional seats on the ballot in California in 2004 and not one changed parties.

Unfortunately, Proposition 77, which was on last November's ballot, got caught up in a partisan battle between Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who supported it, and Democratic leaders, who lumped it in with a reform package they called a "power grab" by the governor. Confused voters killed it.

But now the same commission-type reform could be on the ballot, and both sides are saying it's a good idea.
Let's hope legislative leaders follow through on their promise, and then voters support the change.

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