For It Before They Were Against It
2015-02-09 - by
Uncovering hypocrisy by politicians is as easy as finding sand at the beach. But the turnabout by Republicans on redistricting reform is noteworthy for its cynicism. Here’s what four key GOP Senators say now and did then.
“God bless ’em, I can’t wait to get it over here. It’s dead. It’s not going anywhere.” – Senator Tom Apadaca, who sponsored redistricting reform three times (2007-08 S1122, S1093) (2009-10 S25).
“It doesn’t need a new commission, it’s unnecessary….The Supreme Court made it clear how to draw these maps, it eliminates the gerrymandering that they’re talking about.” – Senator Robert Rucho, sponsor of Senate bill 283, Independent Redistricting Commission, 2001.
“Some feel like it should, some feel like it shouldn’t. You know, the other side had a chance to do that for what, a hundred and some years, never did and there’s some pressure to do it. Again, I’m not sure where our caucus will be on it, but we’ll have that conversation.” – Majority Leader Sen. Harry Brown, who sponsored redistricting reform legislation three times.
“I have yet to see a so-called independent redistricting commission that is truly independent. … I’m still out there looking for that nonpartisan soul that really has no opinion about politics one way or the other that has an informational background in politics. So I believe that (state Supreme Court) decisions provide North Carolina with a set of criteria that removes many of the problems that folks have complained about with reference to redistricting. I don’t see an independent redistricting commission or any of the proposals that have been floated as improving on the system that we have now.” – Senate President Pro-Tem Phil Berger, who five times sponsored redistricting reform legislation (2001-02 S283) (2005-06 S430) (2007-08 S1122, S1093) (2009-10 S25).
Then there is Governor McCrory, who said last November: “I think the gerrymandered districts where we have no competition in the general elections make all of our jobs difficult.” Unless I dozed off during his State of the State speech, he did not mention it Wednesday night.
In fairness, some Republicans have not let where they sit change where they stand on reform, like Rep. Skip Stam of Wake County. He still supports it.
Also in fairness, Democrats could have passed redistricting reform long before now. They didn’t see the light until they lost the power.
There is one difference: Democrats didn’t promise to end gerrymandering. Republicans did. Will they break their promise?
If they do, Democrats should make them pay. They should make Republicans the poster boys for corrupt machine politics. Then, when they get back in power (the wheel always turns), Democrats better keep their promise.
Posted in General, National Republicans
For It Before They Were Against It
2015-02-09/
Uncovering hypocrisy by politicians is as easy as finding sand at the beach. But the turnabout by Republicans on redistricting reform is noteworthy for its cynicism. Here’s what four key GOP Senators say now and did then.
“God bless ’em, I can’t wait to get it over here. It’s dead. It’s not going anywhere.” – Senator Tom Apadaca, who sponsored redistricting reform three times (2007-08 S1122, S1093) (2009-10 S25).
“It doesn’t need a new commission, it’s unnecessary….The Supreme Court made it clear how to draw these maps, it eliminates the gerrymandering that they’re talking about.” – Senator Robert Rucho, sponsor of Senate bill 283, Independent Redistricting Commission, 2001.
“Some feel like it should, some feel like it shouldn’t. You know, the other side had a chance to do that for what, a hundred and some years, never did and there’s some pressure to do it. Again, I’m not sure where our caucus will be on it, but we’ll have that conversation.” – Majority Leader Sen. Harry Brown, who sponsored redistricting reform legislation three times.
“I have yet to see a so-called independent redistricting commission that is truly independent. … I’m still out there looking for that nonpartisan soul that really has no opinion about politics one way or the other that has an informational background in politics. So I believe that (state Supreme Court) decisions provide North Carolina with a set of criteria that removes many of the problems that folks have complained about with reference to redistricting. I don’t see an independent redistricting commission or any of the proposals that have been floated as improving on the system that we have now.” – Senate President Pro-Tem Phil Berger, who five times sponsored redistricting reform legislation (2001-02 S283) (2005-06 S430) (2007-08 S1122, S1093) (2009-10 S25).
Then there is Governor McCrory, who said last November: “I think the gerrymandered districts where we have no competition in the general elections make all of our jobs difficult.” Unless I dozed off during his State of the State speech, he did not mention it Wednesday night.
In fairness, some Republicans have not let where they sit change where they stand on reform, like Rep. Skip Stam of Wake County. He still supports it.
Also in fairness, Democrats could have passed redistricting reform long before now. They didn’t see the light until they lost the power.
There is one difference: Democrats didn’t promise to end gerrymandering. Republicans did. Will they break their promise?
If they do, Democrats should make them pay. They should make Republicans the poster boys for corrupt machine politics. Then, when they get back in power (the wheel always turns), Democrats better keep their promise.
Posted in General, National Republicans