PROPOSITION 11 / Redistricting- Congress left out of argument over lines
By Jim Sanders
October 14, 2008
Lazy, pampered, ineffective, unaccountable -- lawmakers are being ripped throughout California in new radio spots that end with a sales pitch:
"That's why we need Proposition 11. It'll help end the gridlock by forcing politicians to pay attention to voters -- and if they don't, it makes it easier to vote them out of office."
The argument to shake up high-priced, do-little politicians by altering how districts are drawn could be fired at both the Legislature and Congress, both of which have dismal approval ratings and districts drawn to protect incumbents.
But listen carefully to the 60-second radio spot: Congress is not mentioned.
To quiet congressional opposition, backers of Proposition 11, championed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, are proposing that a citizens commission draw legislative and Board of Equalization seats -- but not those of Congress.
Opponents say splitting such duties would be costly and inconsistent.
"The idea of having one entity do half the job and somebody else do the other half is kind of a silly way to do things," said Paul Hefner, spokesman for the No on 11 campaign.
The measure would have legislators draw congressional seats that they conceivably could seek in future years, he noted.
Hefner said Proposition 11 would produce a two-by-two "Noah's Ark" effect -- two public bodies with map-drawing authority, requiring two staffs of experts and two redistricting budgets.
"That will actually minimize public participation," said attorney Nancy Ramirez of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund. "Community groups are going to have competing sets of hearings to attend."
Others counter that cost increases would be minimal and that hearings could be coordinated.
Jeannine English, AARP state president and a leader of Yes on 11, said it makes sense to target the most egregious conflict of interest by prohibiting legislators from choosing their voters by drawing their own districts.
"That doesn't mean that we are comfortable with the way congressional districts are drawn," she said. "That's something we will look at for another campaign."
Proposition 11 sets rules for drawing both legislative and congressional districts. Public hearings must be held, records must be public, and neighborhoods and "communities of interest" must not be split, if possible.
"There will at least be the chance to have some sunshine shone on that process," said Derek Cressman of California Common Cause.
California's current districts were drawn in 2001, when Republican and Democratic lawmakers struck a deal to create legislative and congressional districts that protected incumbents of both parties.
Only one of 53 congressional seats -- and none of 120 legislative seats -- has changed party hands in the past two elections.
Proposition 11 would create a 14-member citizens commission to draw legislative and Board of Equalization boundaries every 10 years.
The panel would consist of five Democrats, five Republicans and four independent or minor-party members.
California voters have rejected redistricting measures five times since 1982. Proposition 77, in 2005, included congressional lines and sparked opposition from then-House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, Republican Rep. John Doolittle and other members of Congress.
Pelosi actively fought the 2005 measure, calling a news conference to announce, "I am very committed to defeating Proposition 77, and I am raising money to defeat it." During the campaign, she challenged her California Democratic colleagues to raise $100,000 apiece toward the effort.
Not this year, however. Pelosi opposes Proposition 11 but has not bankrolled the fight.
In a letter to Schwarzenegger, Pelosi and four other congressional Democrats said Proposition 11 would create "arguably the most powerful political commission in the state" and that redistricting standards should be set nationally, not vary by state, so that "no party will gain advantage."
In 38 states, the Legislature draws both its own and congressional lines. Only six states split the duties between the Legislature and a commission, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Proposition 11 would allocate about $4 million for a citizens commission to draw districts in 2011. The money represents the amount spent seven years ago, $3 million, adjusted for inflation.
No money is promised the Legislature, which would fund its own drawing of congressional districts.
The number of attorneys, consultants, data processors, computer experts, community outreach workers and others needed for redistricting can vary from one decade to the next.
Tim Hodson, former Senate point man for redistricting , estimated that 40 to 50 people worked on the maps in 1991. Greg Schmidt, Senate secretary, said fewer people were used in 2001, although statistics are not readily available.
Proposition 11, by splitting responsibilities between the Legislature and a citizens commission, could increase total redistricting costs -- but probably not significantly, according to the Legislative Analyst's Office.
Michael Cohen, LAO director of state administration, said the redistricting tab conceivably could rise by a couple of million dollars. But new maps are needed only once every 10 years, so annual cost impact would be minimal, he said.
PROPOSITION 11
What it would do:
* Set up a 14-member citizens commission for drawing district boundaries for state Senate, Assembly and Board of Equalization seats.
*Set up process for selecting members of the commission, which would include five Democrats, five Republicans and four voters registered with neither party.
sacbee.com
VOTERS GUIDE
Compare candidates in the Nov. 4 election. See who's running in local congressional and legislative races, plus county, city and school board races in Sacramento, Placer, El
Dorado and Yolo counties. sacbee.com/elections
Section: MAIN NEWS
Page: A1
Record Number: SAC_0405246769