KCET’s So Cal Connected just aired Between the Lines, featuring Glendale resident and redistricting expert Douglas Johnson. The program focused on Proposition 27, which according to the official state voter guide, “Eliminates state commission on redistricting. Consolidates authority for redistricting with elected representatives.”
The KCET program covered gerrymandering in California, Proposition 11’s successful passage two years ago creating a mandate for a citizen commission to draw legislative districts, and politicians’ attempts to overturn the mandate with Proposition 27 and return the drawing of legislative districts into the hands of the legislature.
The language of the argument in favor of Proposition 27 contained in California’s “Official Voter Information Guide” was written by Daniel H. Lowenstein, acting in behalf of the California Congressional Delegation. It contains a number of distortions and outright falsehoods that need to be addressed.
Lowenstein claims that the Citizens Redistricting Commission will be free to draw electoral district boundaries that can create a district that “could have almost a million more people than another.” FACT: The Commission is directed to adhere to the federal voting rights act, which requires all districts to be essentially equal in population. This is the #1 criterion they are required to follow!
He describes the Commission as “a faceless group of amateurs.” FACT: The Commission members will probably all be better qualified than most of the incumbent politicians whose cozy careers are in danger! Anyone interested in seeing the qualifications of these people can go to http://www.wedrawthelines.ca.gov and see for themselves. The 60 finalists for the 14-person Commission are listed, and their qualifications can be reviewed by clicking on “Applicant Pool.” (Over 4,000 people applied to be Commissioners.)
Lowenstein describes the Commission as “a bureaucracy with the power to decide who is to represent us.” FACT: The non-partisan Commission will only draw the boundaries of the electoral districts in which candidates for state office will run. The voters in those districts will decide who is to represent us!
He claims the Commission “can make up to $1 million from California taxpayers in cumulative salary.” FACT: They would all have to work full time for a year to do this, whereas they will start their work in January 2011 and are required to complete it no later than September 15, 2011 – less than nine months. And this is by no means a full-time job! The actual salary costs of the Commission are likely to be more in the range of $250,000 – lunch money for California politicians!
He says that under the existing law “voters can be denied the right to pass a referendum” against the electoral district maps developed by the Commission. FACT: The existing law, passed by the voters as Proposition 11 in 2008, specifically states that the Commission’s maps “shall be subject to referendum,” and that “if voters disapprove a certified map in referendum” then the State Supreme Court shall appoint special masters to resolve the situation.
In short, Lowenstein’s “Argument in Favor of Proposition 27” is a pack of deliberate distortions! WHO is supporting Lowenstein and his Proposition 27? THE INCUMBENT POLITICIANS OF COURSE!
Any other questions??? VOTE NO ON 27!!!