Redistricting -- legislative power grab

First point I need to make is that I do NOT choose the ads that run on this blog. Google does. Apparently, they do not have an algorithm to detect irony. If they did, there's no way an ad for Ben Quayle would show up on these pages.

Now, with that out of the way, Democratic leadership in the Arizona House and Senate issued the following:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 1, 2011

Democrats outraged by politician power grab and bullying of redistricting process

STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – As the Republicans wrapped up a one-day chaotic special session to impeach citizen Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) Chairwoman Colleen Mathis, legislative Democratic leaders were dismayed by what they decried as the worst power grab possible by partisan, incumbent politicians.

House Minority Leader Chad Campbell, D-Phoenix (District 14) said:

"The Governor and Legislature have sunk to a new low with this special session. The blatant bullying, intimidation and partisanship they have inflicted on the citizen members of the Independent Redistricting Commission is abhorrent. They should be ashamed of themselves. When I see politicians behaving like this I understand why so many voters want to throw elected officials out of office. They deserve it. The people are demanding that elected officials come together to create jobs and help our schools and the partisan, incumbent politicians only care about protecting themselves. It's disgusting."

Senate Minority Leader David Schapira, D-Tempe (District 17) said:

“There was no basis for the removal of Chairwoman Mathis except pure partisan politics. There have been absolutely no findings of fact, and no conclusions of law. In the past, when the Legislature impeached a governor, there were full proceedings and guarantees of due process. Now, we have a witch hunt coordinated by a Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Republican Congressional delegation and Republican legislators with a predetermined outcome. It’s a disgrace.”

Democrats said they plan to send the attached letter (text below and attached) to the Independent Redistricting Commission to give feedback on the draft maps and redistricting process. They emphasized that a letter – versus a taxpayer-funded special session intended to bully the IRC members into changing their draft maps – is the proper way to influence the independent redistricting process created by voters in a 2000 ballot measure.

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Read the Minority Report here.