In this case, who is they?
The Republican-controlled Arizona Legislature.
They are afraid their ability to dominate lawmaking in our state will slip out of their hands.
Actually, they have a strong hunch that they'll lose it eventually. They want to do everything possible to put a halt to it.
It (the state turning from red to blue) happened in California. It will happen in Arizona for several reasons.
Redistricting is all about how to divvy up the power of the people.
In 2011 they set their aim on Independent Redistricting. So far, they have failed.
They tried to decapitate the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission in the 2011. But they failed.
Now they are hoping to ramp up a Dark Money campaign to con Arizona voters into doing their dirty work for them.
That is a big reason why Arizona citizens are working to get the Outlaw Dirty Money initiative on the ballot for this year's general election on November 3.
Their hands are tied because of the Voter Protection Act, passed when voters realized the legislature would undermine the Will of the People every chance they could. So, now they can't get the job done on their own.
Because Republicans couldn't get the courts to limit the Independent Redistricting Commission they want to get voters to rethink the proposition. We were the first state to take redistricting away from lawmakers. Now those lawmakers want us to give it back to them, one step at a time. This is one such step.
Fat chance.
Here's the plan. SCR1018, introduced last week, is on the agenda for the Senate Judiciary Committee for today, Thursday February 6. The committee meets at 9am.
Here's the pertinent language the resolution wants voters to add to the state constitution, (new language in CAPS)
Congressional districts shall have equal population to the extent practicable, and state legislative districts shall have equal population to the extent practicable SO THAT THE POPULATION OF THE LARGEST LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT BY POPULATION SHALL NOT EXCEED THE POPULATION OF THE SMALLEST LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT BY POPULATION BY MORE THAN FIVE THOUSAND PERSONS.The reason for this language is that the Republicans believe that provisions in the Voting Rights Act that must be followed dilutes the voice of Republicans by packing too many of their voters into too few legislative districts. That was the subject of Harris v AIRC. But the United States Supreme Court unanimously held that compliance with the Voting Rights Act -- which provides that there must be districts in which racial or ethnic minority voters are able to choose their own lawmakers -- does NOT substantially dilute the voting power of Republicans.
If you have access to the RTS (Request to Speak) system, you can log in and register your disapproval.
Otherwise, please call and/or email the offices of each member of the committee and leave a message for the member to vote NO on SCR 1018.
Sonny Borrelli (602) 926-5051 email SBorrelli@azleg.gov
Vince Leach (602) 926-3106 VLeach@azleg.gov
Rick Gray, Vice-Chairman (602) 926-5413 RGray@azleg.gov
Lupe Contreras (602) 926-5284 LContreras@azleg.gov
Martin Quezada (602) 926-5911 MQuezada@azleg.gov
Eddie Farnsworth, Chairman (602) 926-5735 EFarnsworth@azleg.gov
Andrea Dalessandro (602) 926-5342 ADalessandro@azleg.gov
UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE
On a party line vote today, the Senate Judiciary committee approved (recommended to the Senate) passage of SCR1018.
Arizona voters have a history of making GOP lawmakers regret thumbing their noses at the people. This issue is far from over. I will keep you updated as I learn more.
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