The Virginian-Pilot
©
RICHMOND
A minister who delivered the Senate invocation this morning reminded lawmakers they're elected to "serve people of all colors, races and socio-economic backgrounds."
Minutes later, the Republican-controlled Senate approved a congressional redistricting plan critics say doesn't meet that standard because it dilutes the influence of minority voters.
The map that cleared the Senate on a 20-19 party line vote updates the boundaries of Virginia's 11 congressional districts to reflect population shifts following the latest census count. One Democratic senator wasn't present for the vote in the chamber split 20-20 between the political parties.
Drawn to insulate the 8 Republican and 3 Democratic incumbents in the state delegation, the map has raced though the General Assembly session this winter. It passed the House of Delegates last week.
Competing maps stalled in a divided legislature last year when the Republican House of Delegates backed a status quo plan and the Democratic Senate insisted on a map to create two districts with significant African American populations.
The Democratic map called for a reconstituted 4th Congressional District with new geographic lines and a majority black population, potentially weakening the re-election chances of Republican U.S. Rep. Randy Forbes.
And it reduced the black population in the 3rd Congressional District represented by Newport News Democratic U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott.
Those features aren't part of the Republican-authored plan that passed Friday, which boosts the black population in the 3rd District to nearly 60 percent, maintaining Scott's seat as Virginia's only majority-black congressional district.
Democrats said that increase illegally packs black voters into one territory rather than enhancing their strength commensurate with their 20 percent share of the state population.
"This plan is not about the citizens of the commonwealth, but about protecting the interests of those who currently hold office," said Sen. Mamie Locke, a Hampton Democrat who offered the alternative Senate plan last year.
Other Democrats argued it is improper for the legislature to pass a map now after failing to approve a reapportionment plan last year as the state constitution requires.
Defending the Republican bill was Sen. Mark Obenshain of Harrisonburg, who said lawmakers have the authority to approve it this year. He blamed Democrats for the delay that inhibited earlier passage of a redistricting plan.
The map now heads to Gov. Bob McDonnell desk before facing a federal review for compliance with the Voting Rights Act.
It also is the subject of lawsuits filed in state and federal court over the legislature's tardiness in passing a plan.
Julian Walker, 804-697-1564, julian.walker@pilotonline.com
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Sorry Liberals
You essentially can't touch the 3rd District. It's Federal Law.
Oooops! Looks like it backfired on ya. Be careful what you wish for.
Sometimes you get what you asked for.
The current law mandates that a district that is predominantly a minority class cannot be reduced. This was intended to prevent legislators from drawing districts to decrease the number of minorities in it, thereby weakening their influence in politics. Mamie Locke decided to manipulate that law by trying to redraw the lines of a district that Socialists believe they can maintain control and at the same time increase the minority population in an adjacent district. Despite the venomous rhetoric from leftist media, the Virginia General Assembly obeyed the law. If Mamie Locke is feeling so bold about the reception she anticipates for her anti-free-market agenda, perhaps she should introduce legislation to drop the Voting Rights Act for VA.
can this reporter
Name the Democratic Senator that missed this vote?
Republican voter suppression against black people
Republicans will do anything they can to suppress the black vote. Voter ID laws, gerrymandering districts, dirty tricks, you name it. It's what they do. Google Karl Rove.
interesting note
Interesting that a democrat senator would "miss" this vote. I would think this would be an important vote. Sounds like the dems let this vote pass with out contest for some reason. We know that the tie breaking vote would have been cast by the Lt Gov but still. Any political folks out there to explain this. I know enough that nothing in politics happens without a reason and strategy.
Democat Democrats Democratic
I am sure you meant write "Democratic senator".
Legilature should not do this
It is good we have the Voting Rights Act to at lease give another set of eyes to the plan. The Voting Rights Act is, however, under attack with the picture ID thing (about 23 million Adult Americans do not have picture ID's). Anyway, the apportionment should be done by a Citizens committee or maybe a computer.
do you have proof for this lie?
about 23 million Adult Americans do not have picture ID's
PLEASE...
compromise with a portion of the Demoncrats plan so we can rid Virginia of Bobby Scott...please?
Same ol' same ol'
Please remember when the Decomcrats controlled the redistricting and they redrew the 7th district to run from Charlottesville to Richmond and the 3th from Richmond to Tidewater in the effort to defeat George Allen by pairing him with the 3rd district rep at the time who would then live in the new 7th, and elect an African American by trailing it through predominantly black areas. Tom Bliley of course retired, Allen went on to bigger and better things, and Bobby Scott represents citizens in Richmond and Tidewater. People still shake their heads over these districts but I don't see any hue and cry to change things. It's the same ol' same ol'. Nothing truly changes. No one should pretend to be angry...except the voters.