Comments on: Monday update (01/21): Redistricting

By: Senators reach bipartisan compromise on redistricting reform « VIVIAN J. PAIGE

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 21:29:39 +0000

[...] on redistricting reform Posted in Local, Politics, Virginia by vjp on January 22nd, 2008 As expected, the Senate Privileges and Elections subcommittee Constitutional Amendments, Reapportionment, [...]

By: vjp

vjp — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 21:05:57 +0000

Sorry – I’m playing catchup. NGC – I think I’ve answered your question a number of times in my writings about redistricting but the short answer is that the GA is elected yet unaccountable, and they have proven that they only thing that matters is protecting themselves. Removing incumbency protection from the redistricting process is a tremendous step towards competition in elections. And that’s good for the electorate.

By: anonymous

anonymous — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 20:36:54 +0000

Um…Glen, how about because once redistricting is over and done with, the “elected and accountable” folks will have decided who they will be elected and accountable to?

I don’t have the time to go through every single proposal, so you’ll forgive me for trying to cut to the chase and hoping you can answer for me:

Did anyone think to make it like BRAC? BRAC was (at least in theory) a great method for taking some of the politics out of base closings and putting them back into the hands of people who would consider the needs of a service before the welfare of a single legislative district.

This commission model is not perfect by any stretch–the last base closures and realignments was entirely too-politically convenient in terms of throwing just enough Senators and Members just enough red meat to make sure it passed while concentrating closures in areas represented by legislators not entirely loyal to the administration (and Thelma Drake, but that was mainly her misfortune for representing some of the same people John Warner does). But at least it’s better than nothing.

By: not Glen Croshaw

not Glen Croshaw — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 00:37:04 +0000

Vivian why should we put redistricting in the hands of people who are not elected and accountable to no one? And if your answer is that in the end the GA gets to decide, then why go through the commission process at all?

By: MLK Day Roundup « Crooked Road Commentary

MLK Day Roundup « Crooked Road Commentary — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 20:05:34 +0000

[...] Vivian Paige does a great job looking at the issue of redistricting. Blogroll [...]