State redistricting opponents retrench

The Orange County Register
January 4, 2010

Probably the most important ballot initiative passed by California voters in November of 2008, Proposition 11, the redistricting proposition, is under attack yet again. This time opponents seek to overturn Prop. 11 next year with ballot initiative of their own.

The successful Voters First Act (Prop. 11) which removed the authority from California state politicians to write their own political districts, instead placing the responsibility with an independent citizen redistricting commission, could be overturned if the proposed ballot initiative is passed by voters in 2010.

A UCLA professor and vocal opponent of Prop. 11, Daniel Lowenstein, filed an initiative Tuesday that would get rid of the citizens redistricting commission altogether. His ballot initiative seems to be aimed at the perceived costs of the citizen commission, the compensation of the commission members and the notion that the citizen members of the commission are not elected. That was the reason voters supported the initiative: Californians want to stop elected politicians from choosing who votes for them instead rightfully empowering voters to decide their elected officials for themselves.

Mr. Lowenstein's opposition to the 2008 initiative is well documented. He was one of the co-authors for the ballot argument against the proposition – but he is not giving up the fight, even after the people have spoken.

Mr. Lowenstein seems to have an affinity for less-than-liberty-friendly positions, like trying to overturn Prop. 11. For example he served on the national board of Common Cause, a far-left organization claiming to be non-partisan that advocates for government-run health care (with a public option), so-called campaign finance reform and taxpayer-financed political campaigns. He was appointed in 1974 by then-governor Jerry Brown as chairman of California's Fair Political Practices Commission, another oversized, inefficient, government bureaucracy.

Prop 11 is a historic ballot proposition taking away the power of elected politicians to map out their own political districts for their electoral advantage. A citizen's commission may not be perfect, but it is the best proposed solution to date for creating fair, constitutional and competitive political districts.

Mr. Lowenstein's desire to put the power back in the hands of Sacramento politicians demonstrates a childlike faith in government that would be endearing if it wasn't so dangerous.

Section: Commentary
Page: Edit_H
Record Number: 201312279
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