Friday, November 18, 2011

Redistricting -- Dueling Press Releases

The Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission this evening issued the following release:

Redistricting Panel to Meet Week of Nov. 28

PHOENIX (Nov. 18, 2011) – The Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission will resume meeting the week of Nov. 28 to consider the public comment that it has received on the draft congressional- and legislative-district maps it adopted in October.
“I look forward to working again with my fellow commissioners,” Chairman Colleen Coyle Mathis said today. “I am hopeful that we can complete our mission before Christmas so that there is sufficient opportunity for the Department of Justice to approve the maps in time for state and county election officials to complete their duties before the 2012 primary and general elections.”
The commission received a tremendous amount of public comment during its second round of public hearings, which were held in 30 different locations statewide. It will consider all of this input, along with reports submitted by the Legislature and other comments that came in via fax, mail, email and the commission’s website. This feedback will serve as the basis for determining what adjustments they will make to the draft maps when they reconvene.
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On the other hand, Sonoran Alliance posted the following release purported to be from House Speaker Andy Tobin (I saw purported because I do NOT find the statement on the state legislature's website):

Statement by Speaker Andy Tobin on Reinstatement of Colleen Mathis
November 18, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 18 2011
STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX (Nov. 18, 2011) – Speaker Andy Tobin released the following statement today in response to the Arizona Supreme Court’s Reinstatement of the Independent Redistricting Commission chairwoman:
“I am extremely disappointed that the Court has chosen to reinstate a biased czar to the Independent Redistricting Commission. By placing Ms. Mathis back at the helm of the Commission, the Court has substituted its opinion for the voice of the people through those they have actually elected to represent them. The Court has removed the last remaining check and balance on an unelected and unaccountable body that has spent months blatantly and proudly violating open meeting laws, meeting in secret, ignoring voter mandates and placating the Democrat Party and the Obama administration. If this Commission is not put to a stop, the Court’s decision means more secrecy and more gerrymandering from a body that has shown a disdain for the Constitution. Moving forward, I am putting all options on the table in an effort to protect our state from being hijacked by a partisan ploy to demolish the democratic process.”# # #
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Since Tobin's statement contains, at minimum, veiled threats, perhaps Arizonans should demand he disclose what "all options" in his mind are that he intends to put on the table.

Reach Tobin by phone at 602-926-5172 and email at atobin@azleg.gov






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