Editorial: Foes distorting Proposition 11

Opponents hope to retain power by misleading California voters

By Anonymous

Published: Thursday, Oct. 30, 2008 | Page 18A

The California politicians who control how legislative districts are drawn don't want to lose that power. Thus, they are again using deceptive tactics to derail an initiative that would hand the job of redistricting to an independent commission.

Proposition 11, the only statewide measure worthy of support on the Nov. 4 ballot, would create a 14-member panel to decide, once every 10 years, the districts of legislators and members of the State Board of Equalization.

No longer could political fat cats meet in closed rooms and draw districts that minimize competition and ensure safe seats for Democrats and Republicans. No longer would lawmakers get to pick their voters.

Perhaps you've seen the opposition's television ads that feature a pointy-headed professor complaining about how Proposition 11 is so complicated. He's right.

It is complicated – by design.

To prevent one or another political party from hijacking the process, Proposition 11 would allow citizens of every stripe to apply for the redistricting commission. The state auditor would screen this pool of applicants (eliminating lobbyists and former legislators), then recommend 60 finalists. Legislative leaders would then have the authority to strike 24 applicants deemed biased or unqualified. From the remaining 36, the auditor would then randomly pick eight commission members (three Democrats, three Republicans and two others), and those eight would select the other six members.

In their television ad, the opposition makes the false suggestion that all 14 commissioners could come from a single place – such as Lone Pine. This claim not only insults the fine people of Lone Pine, it ignores provisions in the initiative that ensure that no single region or ethnic group could dominate the proceedings.

The No-on-11 ad also suggests that Proposition 11 would hit people in the pocketbook. "No taxation without representation," says a woman in the ad. Again, it's a false claim.

Who's spreading this misinformation? The campaign against redistricting reform is led by Senate leader Don Perata, the prison guards union and other labor groups. Don't let this self-interested crew block reform. Vote "yes" on Proposition 11.