California: state senate to consider redistricting commission this week
AP reports: California lawmakers are considering giving up one of their most politically potent powers -- the ability to draw their own districts.
A constitutional amendment that would transfer those duties to an 11-member commission seems to have enough votes to pass, a year after voters rejected a somewhat similar attempt that sparked a fight between Democrats and Republicans.
''I don't see a whole lot of opposition to this at this point,'' said Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuņez, D-Los Angeles. ''It's a clear effort to try and do the right thing by way of allowing for broader citizenship participation in the political process.''
Twelve states currently take the power to draw districts out of the hands of legislators and give it to commissions. Five others use commissions if lawmakers fail to approve new districts by a deadline.
If the California amendment passes, it would be the first time a state legislature had voted to give up its redistricting role, said Sen. Alan Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, the measure's author. The other commissions were created by voter initiatives, he said. -- Monterey County Herald | 06/19/2006 | Redistricting resurfaces