« Ind. Decisions - More on Judge Hamilton's ruling in Hinrichs, et al. v. Bosma | Main | Courts - Political Spotlight Shines on Judicial Ethics »

Monday, January 30, 2006

Ind. Law - Star editorial on redistricting bill; my thoughts

The Indianapolis Star today urges the state senate to adopt HB 1009, the redistrcting bill. Some quotes:

Legitimate questions about implementation remain and the problem of partisanship certainly hasn't disappeared, but passage of the legislative redistricting bill by the Indiana House sends a clear challenge to the Senate to make a choice between voters' interests and those of politicians.

So far, unfortunately, Senate President Pro Tempore Robert Garton, R-Columbus, has shared the coolness of Democratic leaders toward the creation of a bipartisan commission to draw boundaries after the 2010 census.

They point out that the Indiana Constitution empowers the legislature to design the maps; but that's why the bill authored by Rep. Gerald Torr, R-Carmel, makes the commission advisory and gives the legislature at least a semi-final say. Whether the legislature would enjoy indefinite veto power, and how much change it could order in the commission's drafts, remains to be worked out.

Those concerns are real, but they should not serve as an excuse to dismiss a genuine break from the tradition of shameless gerrymandering whereby incumbent elected officials insulated themselves from challengers and the parties conspired in comfort rather then competitiveness. The result has been shoo-in re-elections, voter apathy, emboldened special interests and political fragmentation of neighborhoods. * * *

House Minority Leader B. Patrick Bauer, D-South Bend, reminds us that a commission made today might well be unmade by whoever's in power in 2010.

My thoughts. There are valid concerns about the redistricting bill. It is ambiguous. It may well be unconstitutional. It could be repealed next year, one General Assembly can not bind the next.

A redistricting commission is an excellent idea, but it has to be done right -- by constitutional amendment. Going the constitutional route would solve each of the above problems.

A constitutional amendment needs to be passed by two separately elected General Assemblies. This is the second session of the 114th General Assembly, next year is the first session of the 115th ...

Then the proposed constitutional amendment goes on the ballot at the next general election. And the voters decide.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on January 30, 2006 07:19 AM
Posted to Indiana Government | Indiana Law