Balancing The Issues

REDISTRICTING BATTLE TURNS TO COMPROMISE

According to press reports Texas AG Abbott and civil rights groups are trying to negotiate a settlement to the redistricting mess.

FROM THE AP:

"Negotiations between the state and minority groups were under way even before the court made its ruling late Friday. Democratic state Rep. Trey Martinez-Fischer, chairman of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus, said Texas Attorney General Gregg Abbott had approached his group to make a serious attempt to reach a compromise that would keep the state's April primary"

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g9B9k82zU-BJ781lm5wIgEtYDr-A?docId=2f118f3a25604367a5d9b459090720fa

THE PROBLEM

Republicans who actually started this battle by drawing maps which disenfranchised Latinos and blacks, and who asked that the Supreme Court intervene are now complaining that the decision by the Supreme Court may cause fewer Republicans to vote in the primaries.  I am confused by this because in terms of the primaries a small turnout may hurt the competition between the Republicans, but will not hurt the Republicans in the general election.  This is when you want your voters to turn out.

The problem the Republicans face is, if Greg Abbott cannot negotiate a settlement acceptable to the Republican Party, Greg Abbott will again be forced to challenge any court drawn maps, which will in effect delay the primaries again.

WHAT SHOULD BE DONE?

I have always argued that redistricting should be based on two steps.  First you start in the north west corner of the state and then go equal distances east and south until you have a district which represents some 500,000 to 550,000 people.  Second, you then allow a committee to tweak the districts based on economic variables which tie districts together.   There should be an absolute prohibition against considering voting patterns by political party.   This is not a far flung idea.  Some states have moved to nonpartisan committees.

I do not doubt that if Texas would follow this two part process, in time it would not longer be subject to the preclearance requirements of the Voting Rights Act.