Lawmakers want new way for drawing district lines
Paper: Grand Rapids Press, The (MI)
Date: June 18, 2007
LANSING -- Michigan's method of redrawing congressional and legislative districts once every decade could become less partisan under a constitutional amendment proposed in the state Capitol.
State lawmakers now map their own seats and congressional districts after the once-every-10-years Census, usually favoring themselves and their political parties.
Republican-drawn boundaries from 2001, for example, are a reason the Michigan GOP still has control of the state Senate and nine of 15 U.S. House seats despite the national wave of anti-war, anti-Republican sentiment that propelled Democrats in last year's election.
State Sen. Glenn Anderson, a Democrat from Westland, introduced a measure last week that would turn the power to establish district lines from the partisan Legislature to a nine-member independent redistricting commission.
"I'm not doing it out of anger that we don't have a majority," he said.
Instead, Anderson says, his purpose is to create more competitive seats in a state whose partisan makeup is nearly evenly split between Republicans and Democrats. The current system can be manipulated to protect incumbents and undermine voters' power at the ballot box, he argues.
"This is about strengthening our elective process. When you're able to design a district to benefit a candidate, there is something wrong with that district," Anderson said.
Redistricting needs approval
Twelve states have independent redistricting commissions. Under the proposal pitched Thursday and backed by nine other Senate Democrats, final redistricting plans would need approval from two-thirds of the panel members.
While not taking an official position on the plan, Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Mark Brewer agrees redistricting should become fairer and less partisan. But state Republican Party Chairman Saul Anuzis does not see a problem with the existing system.
The then GOP-dominated Legislature in 2001 drew new congressional districts to account for shifting populations and the loss of one seat. After the 2002 election, Michigan's congressional delegation went from a 9-7 Democratic majority to a 9-6 GOP majority.
Copyright, 2007, The Grand Rapids Press. All Rights Reserved. Used by NewsBank with Permission.
Author: David Eggert / The Associated Press
Section: State
Page: B6
Copyright, 2007, The Grand Rapids Press. All Rights Reserved. Used by NewsBank with Permission.
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