The Virginian-Pilot
©
RICHMOND
Virginia’s two legislative chambers are miles apart on the subject of nonpartisan redistricting.
The day after the state Senate unanimously approved a proposal for a bipartisan commission to redraw legislative district lines, a nearly identical measure was shot down in a House of Delegates subcommittee this morning.
That means the job of redrawing legislative maps to conform them with population shifts after every decennial Census is likely to stay strictly in the hands of the General Assembly.
Del. Betsy Carr’s bill, HB831, would have established a seven-member commission appointed by the state Supreme Court to redraw state and congressional district lines after every Census and submit the maps to the General Assembly, which would still retain final say in the matter.
Carr’s bill had the support of the League of Women Voters and several government reform organizations. Supporters said the measure would de-politicize the process, make races more competitive and strengthen minority voting rights.
The measure was voted down 5-2 on the motion of Del. Chris Jones, R-Suffolk, a longtime proponent of preserving redistricting as a legislative prerogative.
The similar Senate-passed measure, SB446, submitted by Sen. Jill Holtzman Vogel, R-Fauquier County, is likely to suffer the same fate.
Carr, D-Richmond, said after the vote she’ll keep working to establish a nonpartisan commission before the next census in 2020. “I’m a survivor,” she said.
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demorats crying foul
But yet, had they had the majority, they would do exactly the same thing, gerrymander districts to suit their purposes & agandas. Again, they would be doing the exact same thing, no doubt about it. Demorats, Stop crying & get over it. If you get the house & senate back during the next cencus cycle, prove me wrong, but I bet you won't.
The issue
Are you in favor of nonpartisan redistricting, or are you in favor of partisan gerrymandering?
Republican obstruction, voter suppression, and gerrymandering
Republicans continue their obstruction, voter suppression, and gerrymandering. Nothing new here.
Republican Gerrymandering?
Take a look at Bobby Scott's district! It was drawn to ensure his reelection by 'minorities'.
Is it really true that minorities will only vote for one of their own btw?
And
during the last two redistricting sessions, Republicans packed Rep. Scott's district with even more minorities by removing them from the four surrounding districts to ensure their own re-elections.
Um
Chris. I understand that reading the whole article may interfere with your posting of false statements, but I feel compelled to point this out
similar Senate-passed measure, SB446, submitted by Sen. Jill Holtzman Vogel, R-Fauquier
Just so you know, the R after the name denotes that the person is a member of the REPUBLICAN party
I understand that reading
I understand that reading the whole article may interfere with your posting of false statements, but I feel compelled to point this out.
This article is about a bill sponsored by Del. Carr (D-Richmond) that "was voted down 5-2 on the motion of Del. Chris Jones, R-Suffolk, a longtime proponent of preserving redistricting as a legislative prerogative."
Just so you know, the D after the name of the bill's sponsor denoted that the person is a member of the DEMOCRATIC party and the R after the name of the person who made the motion to kill it denotes that the person is a member of the REPUBLICAN party.
And
for the past several years, the Virginia Senate (under Democratic control) passed a nonpartisan redistricting bill, only to have be killed in the Republican House.
DEMOCRAT NAME CALLING NAD FINGER POINTING
Democrats continue their name calling and finger pointing, it's never their fault it's Bush's.
Read again
First of all, he was accurately describing Republican General Assmbly legislative actions as our elected officials, not "name calling."
Second, he never even mentioned President Bush.