Poll finds support for less-partisan redistricting

Michael Biesecker and Mary Cornatzer
News & Observer
November 29, 2010

A plurality of the state's voters think that an independent commission should be in charge of redistricting, not the legislature, according to a poll by Public Policy Polling, a Democratic pollster in Raleigh.

According to the poll released last week, 49 percent said redistricting should be handled by an independent commission. Only 21 percent wanted legislators handle it, and 30 percent expressed no opinion.

The desire to reduce the political influence is a somewhat partisan one. Democrats favored an independent commission 47 percent to 24 percent, and Republicans were 41 percent for to 20 percent against. Independent voters, as might be expected, supported such a measure 69 percent to 15 percent.

Tom Jensen of Public Policy Polling points out that state Sen. Phil Berger, the Republicans' choice for Senate president, has supported an independent commission for the job in the past. Now, however, he says there isn't time to create one in 2011.

Jensen's poll found that 40 percent of the voters said they'd support a special session of the legislature before the end of this year to create such a commission while 27 percent said the legislators shouldn't be called back to deal with it.

Good will voting

Two weeks ago, members of the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution honoring Tarboro on its 250th anniversary.

It was apparently a controversial move.

Such resolutions have been a longstanding practice in Congress and in the past have tended to get bipartisan support. Now, according to a report last week in the Los Angeles Times, they are coming under fire.

Reporters Lisa Mascaro and Richard Simon wrote that House Republicans say the practice wastes too much time and are considering rule changes.

"I do not suspect that Jefferson or Madison ever envisioned Congress honoring the 2,560th anniversary of the birth of Confucius or supporting the designation of National Pi Day," Eric Cantor, R-Va., and the next House majority leader told the reporters. "I believe people want our time, energy and efforts focused on their priorities."

Supporters of the practice say it's good for the folks back home, and point to a congressional report that said Congress has been bestowing such honors for 200 years.

So who was behind the Tarboro resolution? Rep. G.K. Butterfield, a Democrat from Wilson.

"When people grumble about an 'out-of-control' government, I doubt it has anything to do with members taking a few moments to honor and congratulate the people and places they are elected to serve," Ken Willis, a Butterfield aide, told the Times reporters.

Double-edged legalism

Gary Pearce, a Democratic consultant who worked in the Hunt administration, said he has been reminding people lately that he supported Dennis Wicker over Mike Easley in the party's 2000 primary for governor.

But on his Talking about Politics blog, Pearce advises incoming Republican leaders not to crow too much about Easley's troubles. Pearce says that campaign finance law is confusing and complicated. And, as Easley's conviction last week showed, violating them is a felony.

An excerpt:

"You are now assuming positions of power and prominence. Moving into a world where a hyper-vigilant media - not to mention hostile Democrats, campaign-reform zealots and various freelance bloggers and watchdogs - will scrutinize your every move. ...

"The old saying is that a DA can indict a ham sandwich if he wants. He apparently can indict you for not reporting a ham sandwich, too.

"Welcome to Raleigh. Hope you all know a good lawyer."