Party platters: Democrats ponder remapping change

The Oklahoman
November 18, 2009

Gov. Brad Henry has often preached bipartisanship and laments that "things have gotten more partisan at the state Capitol." The Shawnee News-Star reports that Henry may seek to institutionalize bipartisanship through an independent commission that would broker the makeup of legislative and congressional districts following the 2010 census.

"If more districts were not safe but were more evenly divided, there would be more participation and candidates more in line with the people," Henry said.

Attorney General Drew Edmondson, who'd like to replace Henry when his second term expires, has also thrown out the idea of a redistricting commission. What raises eyebrows about these prominent Democrats appealing for an independent commission is that it comes just ahead of the first redistricting that would ever be done by a Republican Legislature.

And, although it's nowhere near as nefarious, it reminds us of the way Massachusetts Democrats keep changing the way vacant U.S. Senate seats are filled according to whether they control the statehouse.

We're not saying the independent commission is a bad idea, but the timing of the proposals is suspect. Don't Republicans have a right to design at least one configuration of districts, given that Democrats have controlled all the rest since statehood?

Oklahoma House Speaker-designate Kris Steele, R-Shawnee, describing himself as a "good, close, personal friend" of the governor, said he's in favor of the status quo on redistricting.

Henry would need bipartisan support to put his independent commission plan on the 2010 ballot. Steele's comments indicate that the support probably isn't there.