Time to get mad - Public must force Legislature to move on redistricting reform.

Date: April 9, 2006

It might be easier dealing with legislative leaders on redistricting reform if they just said they weren't going to change their corrupt system of drawing district boundaries. But they promise to make changes and even have bills in the hopper that would create a fair redistricting system. Then nothing happens.

The California Legislature has perfected a technique of blocking reforms by acting like they're doing something. It's the most cynical way of doing business. They don't have the guts to defend the current process so they always say change is coming. Based on their history, they've been lying to us.

We let them get away with it because we think this time our legislators will do what they say. Oh, we are so naive.

When it comes to redistricting , nothing happens. And it won't until the public gets mad and demands change. Otherwise, the votes of millions of Californians will continue to have little consequence in legislative and Congressional elections.

Redistricting robs you of your vote. That should matter to you. Right now, there's no accountability and that's the way the politicians want it.

They don't have to listen to voters because they have rigged their re-elections by drawing district boundaries that limit competition. There's an obvious conflict of interest for legislators, yet the system continues.

When legislators draw the boundaries of their own districts, do you think they are going to look out for the public's interest or their own interest?

In the 2004 election, 153 legislative and congressional seats were on the ballot in California . Not one seat changed parties because none of the seats were competitive. They still aren't.

We support the creation of an independent commission that would determine boundaries of legislative and congressional districts in California .

Last year, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger pushed Proposition 77, which would have set up an independent commission to draw new boundaries. But the political power structure -- both Democrats and Republicans -- killed it with one of the most deceitful campaigns ever.

Sen. Alan Lowenthal, D-Long Beach , has proposed a five-member commission, made up of two Democrats and two Republicans, plus an independent member who presumably would cast the deciding vote. That bill is moving through the Senate and has the backing of Don Perata, the Senate president pro tem. Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez also said he supports redistricting reform.

We hope that's true. The best way to solve this problem is for the Legislature to pass a reform bill that the governor supports. Then the compromise plan could go on the ballot with bipartisan support and that would encourage voters to back it.

But on redistricting reform, watch what the politicians do, not what they say.

Author: THE FRESNO BEE

Section: VISION

Page: J2