Outgoing Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez said he has a plan to reform the legislative redistricting process -- sort of his parting gift to the people of California. Watch out. This is politics at its worst.
It's clear now that a bipartisan redistricting reform measure will reach the ballot in November and Nunez's aim is to confuse voters by putting a rival measure up at the same election. He's engaging in an old political trick. Create a battle between the competing initiatives and the voters will get frustrated, and vote "no" on both of them. The Democrats win by losing.
Don't fall for this phony ploy. Nunez and his pal in the state Senate, President Pro Tem Don Perata, have had chances to reform redistricting every year for the past four. They say they will pass a bill, but something always happens at the last minute.
Make no mistake. Nunez and Assembly Democrats don't want a fair redistricting plan because they might lose seats. So when he says he has a reform measure, he's really trying to complicate the issue.
There is only one true reform: the California Voters First initiative that would create an independent redistricting commission. The measure is supported by Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and former Democratic Controller Steve Westly. Sponsors include groups such as Common Cause, AARP, the League of Women Voters and the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce.
The majority Democrats in the Legislature have had many opportunities to fix a redistricting system that has guaranteed re-election to incumbents. Now it's time for the Dems to step aside and allow the voters to support true redistricting reform.
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