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This practice may seem to be way out in the weeds when it comes to the more flamboyant topics being discussed these days but think about this. When districts are drawn to basically insure one party or the other's reelection to the House it guarantees extremism. The right is afraid to take a reasonable or moderate position on an issue for fear of being "primaried". The left is also boxed in making compromises difficult.
Here's the thing. If districts could be drawn in a more purple way, rather than so extremely red or blue then those running for office would have to take positions that appealed to a more middle of the road reasonable voter rather than sticking strictly to hard line NRA or Sierra Club talking points.
I hope the court will come up with some non-partasian way of redrawing districts to give voters a more accurate representation in their state governments and force politicians to be more realistic.
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case from Wisconsin that could clarify whether redistricting plans can be unconstitutional because they're too partisan.
Last November, a three-judge panel ruled, 2-1, that the Republican-drawn maps for Wisconsin's state assembly were impermissibly biased against Democrats.
The State of Wisconsin had asked the Supreme Court to summarily overturn the decision, or to put it on hold. The order from the justices Monday suggests they plan to hear the case this fall. There has been no action on the stay request.
Without relief from the justices, the state must submit a new redistricting plan by November 1.
The Supreme Court wrestled with the legality of partisan gerrymandering in cases in 1986 and 2004, but issued muddled rulings that offered no clear guidance on the issue.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2017/06/19/supreme-court-to-hear-partisan-gerrymandering-case-239710
Here's the thing. If districts could be drawn in a more purple way, rather than so extremely red or blue then those running for office would have to take positions that appealed to a more middle of the road reasonable voter rather than sticking strictly to hard line NRA or Sierra Club talking points.
I hope the court will come up with some non-partasian way of redrawing districts to give voters a more accurate representation in their state governments and force politicians to be more realistic.
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case from Wisconsin that could clarify whether redistricting plans can be unconstitutional because they're too partisan.
Last November, a three-judge panel ruled, 2-1, that the Republican-drawn maps for Wisconsin's state assembly were impermissibly biased against Democrats.
The State of Wisconsin had asked the Supreme Court to summarily overturn the decision, or to put it on hold. The order from the justices Monday suggests they plan to hear the case this fall. There has been no action on the stay request.
Without relief from the justices, the state must submit a new redistricting plan by November 1.
The Supreme Court wrestled with the legality of partisan gerrymandering in cases in 1986 and 2004, but issued muddled rulings that offered no clear guidance on the issue.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2017/06/19/supreme-court-to-hear-partisan-gerrymandering-case-239710
