Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/17658
6A – Daily News – Monday, October 11, 2010 Opinion Redistricting props pit people against politicians D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 Greg Stevens, Publisher gstevens@redbluffdailynews.com Chip Thompson, Editor editor@redbluffdailynews.com Editorial policy The Daily News opinion is expressed in the editorial. The opinions expressed in columns, letters and cartoons are those of the authors and artists. Letter policy The Daily News welcomes let- ters from its readers on timely topics of public interest. All let- ters must be signed and pro- vide the writer’s home street address and home phone num- ber. Anonymous letters, open letters to others, pen names and petition-style letters will not be allowed. Letters should be typed and cannot exceed two double-spaced pages or 500 words. When several letters address the same issue, a cross section of those submit- ted will be considered for publi- cation. Letters will be edited. Letters are published at the discretion of the editor. Mission Statement We believe that a strong com- munity newspaper is essential to a strong community, creating citizens who are better informed and more involved. The Daily News will be the indispensible guide to life and living in Tehama County. We will be the premier provider of local news, information and advertising through our daily newspaper, online edition and other print and Internet vehi- cles. The Daily News will reflect and support the unique identities of Tehama County and its cities; record the history of its com- munities and their people and make a positive difference in the quality of life for the resi- dents and businesses of Tehama County. How to reach us Main office: 527-2151 Classified: 527-2151 Circulation: 527-2151 News tips: 527-2153 Sports: 527-2153 Obituaries: 527-2151 Photo: 527-2153 On the Web www.redbluffdailynews.com Fax Newsroom: 527-9251 Classified: 527-5774 Retail Adv.: 527-5774 Legal Adv.: 527-5774 Business Office: 527-3719 Address 545 Diamond Ave. Red Bluff, CA 96080, or P.O. Box 220 Red Bluff, CA 96080 In a process known as "redis- tricting," the State Constitution requires that the state adjust the boundary lines of districts once every ten years following the fed- eral census for the State Assembly, State Senate, State Board of Equalization (BOE), and Califor- nia's congressional districts for the U.S. House of Representatives. To comply with federal law, redistrict- ing must establish districts which are roughly equal in population. In the past, district boundaries for all of the offices listed above were established in bills that became law after they were approved by the Legislature and signed by the Governor. On some occasions, when the Legislature and the Governor were unable to agree on redistricting plans, the California Supreme Court per- formed the redistricting. In November 2008, voters passed Proposition 11, which cre- ated the Citizens Redistricting Commission to establish new dis- trict boundaries for the State Assembly, State Senate, and BOE beginning after the 2010 census. To be established once every ten years, the commission will consist of 14 registered voters—5 Democ- rats, 5 Republicans, and 4 others— who apply for the position and are chosen according to specified rules. When the commission sets dis- trict boundaries, it must meet the requirements of federal law and other requirements, such as not favoring or discriminating against political parties, incumbents, or political candidates. In addition, the commission is required, to the extent possible, to adopt district boundaries that 1) maintain the geographic integrity of any city, county, neighborhood, and "com- munity of interest" in a single dis- trict, 2) develop geographically compact districts and 3) place two Assembly districts together within one Senate district and place ten Senate districts together within one BOE district. Prop 20 (the People’s proposi- tion) takes the responsibility to determine boundaries for Califor- nia's congressional districts away from the State Legislature and places it with Citizens Redistrict- ing Commission. Prop 27 (the Politician’s proposition) on the other hand gives all the redistrict- ing responsibilities to the Legisla- ture by eliminating the recently established commission and undo- ing Prop 11 in its entirety. Proposition 20 will amend the State Constitution only to change the redistricting process for seats in the U.S. House of Representa- tives. Specifically, the measure removes the authority for congres- sional redistricting from the Legislature and gives this authority to the Citizens Redistrict- ing Commission estab- lished pursuant to the already passed Prop 11. As a consequence the commission could not draw congressional dis- tricts in order to favor incumbents, political candidates, or political parties. The commission also is to consider the geographic integrity of cities, counties, neigh- borhoods, and commu- nities of interest. Conversely, Prop 27 well as provide the public access to certain redistricting data. Richard Mazzucchi Positive Point would amend the Con- stitution and other state laws to change the way that district bound- aries are determined by placing authority to draw district bound- aries to the Legislature. Under Prop 27 the population of each dis- trict would equal other districts for the same office. This measure fur- ther requires the Legislature to hold hearings before and after dis- trict boundary maps are created, as It is apparent to this columnist that Prop 27 favors partisan inter- ests by letting the State Legislature carve up the electorate to suit their political whims as Prop 20 enhances the public’s role in redistricting. I see no reason why Prop 27 deserves your vote and many why Prop 20 does, not the least of which is that the people, rather than politicians, control the redistricting process. Prop 20 extends the people’s control under Prop 11 to set district boundaries for seats in the U.S. House of Representa- tives while Prop 27 undoes Prop 11 by giv- ing politicians complete control over the redistricting process for all state and federal offices. To keep from being confused try and remember: "Prop twenty helps the people aplenty, while Prop twenty-seven kills Prop 11 to create a politician’s heaven." Richard Mazzucchi can be reached at living-green@att.net. Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Jim Nielsen (R), State Capitol Bldg., Room 4164 P.O. Box 942849, Sacramento 94249; (916) 319-2002; Fax (916) 319- 2102 STATE SENATOR — Sam Aanestad (R), State Capitol Bldg., Room 2054, Sacramen- to, CA 95814. (916) 651-4004; Fax (916) 445-7750 GOVERNOR — Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 445-2841; Fax (916) 558-3160; E-mail: gover- nor@governor.ca.gov. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE — Wally Herger (R), 2635 Forest Ave. Ste. 100, Chico, CA 95928; 893-8363. U.S.SENATORS — Dianne Feinstein (D), One Post Street, Suite 2450, San Francisco, CA 94104; (415) 393-0707. Fax (415) 393-0710. Barbara Boxer (D), 1700 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111; (415) 403-0100. Fax (202) 224- 0454. Politics — Here, there and everywhere Commentary Consider the Webster’s New Pocket Dictionary definition: "Pol- itics 1. science of government 2. political affairs, methods, opinions, scheming, etc." All other uses and versions of the word – including policy, political science, politician, polity – have, at their core, govern- ment, government activity and government power. Political par- ties exist because they vie for the reins of government and its inher- ent power, resulting in partisan pol- itics. Some say that makes them all the same; others say they have very real, philosophical differences. I favor the latter argument. Party affiliation, however, does not bear on all issues or candidates. Take, for instance, the ballot propo- sitions, which are not promoted as Republican or Democratic initia- tives. While that remains general- ly true, it is also true that they often include aspects of party philoso- phy, or they effectively benefit one party. Such is the case with Prop 25, which wraps itself in the guise of breaking budget gridlock in Sacra- mento by lowering the vote requirement to a simple majority rather than the current two-thirds threshold. It also ostensibly forces legislators to give up their compen- sation if they haven’t completed an on-time budget, and states that the two-thirds super majority will be retained for tax increases. Briefly, here’s the reality of the measure (read more by searching "no25yes26.com" on the Internet): Democrats in Sacramento are ben- efited by making it easier to pass budgets containing Democrat gov- erning principles, meaning grow- ing government and empowering public employee unions, while raising taxes and legislators’ com- pensation. In August, Superior Court Judge Patrick Marlette ruled that it was false and misleading to state that Prop 25 "retains two- thirds vote requirement for taxes." Proponents found a sympathetic Democrat judge (of course) to overrule Judge Marlette. However, in July, a legal review by the law firm of Nielsen Merk- samer, LLP, found that Prop 25 would "effectively eliminate the right of voters to use the referen- dum to force a vote and stop taxes disguised as fees. It would, more- over, allow the state Legislature to enact taxes as part of the budget with a bare majority vote, circum- venting the state Constitution’s two-thirds vote requirement for passing new or increased taxes" (No on 25). Democrats dream, at all levels of government, of elimi- nating or pushing aside their polit- ical opposition, for their crass pur- poses of growing government, spending, taxes and benefiting their favored constituencies. Vote NO on 25. The role, or apparent lack there- of, of party affiliation pops up in other ways. At the Tehama District Fair, simply having a cardboard cutout of Sarah Palin displayed at the Republican booth brought out some rather rude, and almost threatening, comments. One young woman said she (the cutout of Palin) "can kiss my (bleep)." Another woman – obviously con- sumed in animosity – said that the Palin cutout "ought to be used for a dartboard." My, my! Over at the Democrat booth, they were overheard numerous times (and complained about to fair authorities) offering those who identified themselves as Democ- rats a chance to participate in a drawing. I’m no authority on the legalities of such drawings, con- ducted in a public setting, but limited to one political party; it does seem to stretch the bounds of good taste. Most local elected offi- cials run without a declared party affiliation. However, many show up at grand openings and other events for local political parties, even appearing in newspaper photos. Some may object but I think party alle- giance should be part of their resume – it does, after all, suggest govern- ing philosophy. Finally, we have the case of Mr. Jim Reed, candidate for Congress, who is to be commended for addressing the Tehama County Tea Party Patriots last Tuesday. The Patriots are, obviously, a conserva- tive group; Mr. Reed never identi- fied himself as a liberal but might be so considered based on his posi- tions. He provided a leaflet to sum- marize a major issue of his cam- paign, but the word "Democrat" was not found in either large or fine print. U.S. Government spending per person. I don’t know if those fig- ures are independently verifiable. He was asked if it wouldn’t be better to reduce spending, reduce taxes and leave more money in the rural communities to be spent as the taxpayers wish, but Mr. Reed was not receptive to the idea. Another strongly Don Polson The way I see it voiced contention was that he, Mr. Reed, would vote with the people of his district, rather than with his party leaders – an admirable position, to be sure. Well, the con- servative-leaning vot- ers in District 2, based on national polls, His main contention was that, while most farming communities get about "$18,000 per person" of government spending, the counties in District 2, represented by Con- gressman Wally Herger, get between $10,263 and $15,415 of oppose legalization of so-called "undocumented" aliens, support Arizona’s immigration enforce- ment law, AZ 1070, don’t believe in global warming, and don’t sup- port the health care law (they want it repealed). Mr. Reed holds oppos- ing positions on all of those issues. Wouldn’t it be easier if he just agreed with the majority of his constituents in the first place? To Mr. Reed's credit on the Sec- ond Amendment and gun rights, he does not support the Obama administration's embargo of over 100,000 "M1 Garand and Carbine rifles" that South Korea sought to export to American for sale to citi- zens for self-defense. Don Polson can be reached by e-mail at donplsn@yahoo.com.