In Case You Missed It

Talk Is Cheap On Redistricting Reform

By Mike Villines
April 13, 2007 

When the Legislature convened for a new session last December, both Democrats and Republicans expressed their eagerness to work together to craft bipartisan redistricting reforms needed to restore a healthy democracy in California. Speaker Fabian NÚñez even went so far as to hold a press conference announcing his strong support for redistricting reform.

As is often the case in Sacramento, actions speak louder than words, and redistricting reform is no exception. Lawmakers are now entering the fifth month of the 2007 legislative session, and literally no action has been taken by legislative Democrats on redistricting - no negotiations, no committee hearings and no results. We cannot let a golden opportunity for redistricting reform slip away because of inaction or politics as usual.

Assembly Republicans believe the time has come to take the power to draw legislative district lines away from the politicians once and for all, and have made redistricting reform one of our top legislative priorities this session. In fact, as my very first action as Assembly Republican leader last December, I introduced legislation (Assembly Constitutional Amendment 4) that is the framework for what I hope will become a bipartisan redistricting reform measure.

We will stand firm in demanding lawmakers take action to fix a broken system, centered on three important principles we believe must be included in any honest reform effort.

First, we must restore the power to draw legislative district lines to the people in the form of an independent citizens' commission. Right now, the people of California don't really have a choice on Election Day because the politicians in Sacramento have gerrymandered district lines to minimize the number of competitive districts and protect incumbents from both parties.

During the last election, not one seat in the Assembly or Senate changed hands between the two political parties, and only a handful of those races were even competitive. Not having to fear being voted out of office every two or four years, too many lawmakers have lost touch with the voters of their districts, working to further their own careers rather than fight for their districts.

Giving an independent citizens' commission the power to draw district lines would maximize the number of competitive elections and force lawmakers to work overtime for their constituents in Sacramento to earn the trust of the voters in the next election.

Second, any redistricting reform measure crafted this year must be comprehensive, and should include the power to draw congressional, legislative and Board of Equalization district lines. Piecemeal redistricting reform is simply unacceptable.

I have been very disappointed to read press accounts in recent weeks that some are now wavering on including the drawing of congressional district lines in a redistricting measure, because the outcome may threaten the standing of one party in Congress. On a recent bipartisan legislative trip to Washington, D.C., I reminded the members of our California congressional delegation of the importance of including the redrawing of congressional district lines in any reform measure we craft this year.

Assembly Republicans don't believe you can pass a measure that excludes congressional district lines and honestly call that redistricting reform. The self-serving actions of some politicians are exactly why we need reform in the first place. The politicians shouldn't be picking the voters; the people should be deciding who represents them in Congress.

Third, common sense should govern how new legislative district boundaries are drawn, ending the days of the bizarre maps drawn to further political aims. New district lines should be drawn as geographically compact as possible, and two complete Assembly districts should be nested in every state Senate district drawn.

Right now, there are some state Senate districts in California that include slices of multiple Assembly districts, solely for political reasons. During the 1990s, the 22nd state Senate district in Los Angeles County was drawn to include the entire boundaries of just the 45th and 46th Assembly districts. Today, the 22nd district includes small portions of 10 Assembly districts.

We don't believe communities should be carved up in little pieces just to maximize the partisan advantage of Democrats or Republicans. By nesting two Assembly districts in every state Senate district, we can ensure that all Californians have a stronger voice in Sacramento.

The time for broken promises and empty rhetoric on redistricting is over. It's time for Democrats to live up to their word and work with Republicans to craft responsible reform without delay. Assembly Republicans stand ready to roll up our sleeves and get the job done for the people of California.

Villines, of Clovis, is Assembly Republican leader. He represents the 29th Assembly District.