Instead of dealing with redistricting during the general session, the legislature may convene a special session during the summer:
As for the elephant in the room that is redistricting, [House Intragovernmental Coordination Chairman State Rep Ed] Rynders [R-Leesburg] said the numbers game does not look good for the southern portion of the state. His latest figures indicate as many as 8,500 people will have to be added to each of the 180 house districts, increasing the population in each from around 45,000 to 53,500.
With an 18 percent population growth in the state, most in and around metro Atlanta, southern influence will decrease in proportion to its rather tepid growth during the past 10 years.
“With the loss of seats, the leadership shift to north Georgia will be significant,” Rynders said. “And while it is human nature to want to ‘take care of your own,’ there’s no doubt in my mind that (north Georgia-based) leadership realizes it can’t survive politically if it takes care only of its own. I know that (House) Speaker (David) Ralston is aware of and committed to the needs of South Georgia.
“I also have no doubts that the redistricting process will be fair, reasonable and meet legal requirements.”
Rynders said that process will most likely include a special called summer session after census data are released in early spring.
I realize this is an involved, difficult process, but given the expected budget shortfall that legislators are expecting, shouldn’t this be something that is handled within the confines of the 40-day general session that takes place in the first 4 months of the year?
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The actual figures from the 2010 Census is not delivered to the states until April.
By April, the session is nearly over.
Simply put, it’s easier to hold a special summer session that is tasked solely with re-drawing the maps.
I realized early spring and that legislators traditionally did redistricting during a summer session, but I wasn’t aware that they were delivered in late April.
At the very least, they could consider holding a 30-day session (pass the budget, etc.) and save 10 days to do redistricting later. This was floated as an idea in 2009 during the budget crisis, it makes sense now.
Sounds reasonable.
I’ve never been through a redistricting, but it doesn’t seem like something that will be “fair, reasonable and meet legal requirements.” Well, OK, it will have to meet legal requirements, but the other stuff … nach. Better we do like California and let judges draw the maps, keep the legislature from choosing their constituents.
There is nothing like the raw politics of self-preservation, and that is what happens during redistricting.
The call for a special session specifically limits what can be handled during that session, and I would prefer that the state’s business be handled before the legislature dissolves into a complete “It’s all about me” mindset. (Hard to believe I know, but during re-districting, it’s worse than normal)
I’ll equate this to your opposition to earmarks, as you believe the log rolling involved increases bad spending decisions.
Take that, add in self preservation of legislators drawing districts while bills are moving through committees simultaneously, and tell me we’ll get any form of “good government” if redistricting is included in the same session.
Fine by me. They can drag it out all year for all I care. Doing so creates job for associated/auxiliary functions – such as media. Heck, they make it through summer with a redistricting session my media company may be able to hire an extra worker this year. Think of an extra session as a jobs creation program!
Cleverly taking narcissism to new heights in 2011!
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i’m not sure why there is a need for a special session. maps are already being designed by geeks on computers at the direction of certain legislative leaders. this will result in a couple of options that will be discussed behind the scenes over the next few months, then offered to the public for review. dems have no say whatsoever in the outcome (same as gopers the last 20 decades), so it shouldn’t be that difficult to have an agreement in place, then vote during a 1-2 day session.
I’m sure the legislators will be excited about work on this instead of going on family vacation.
Having the special session will also allow a chance to address the process of redistricting once more. We expect to support a bill that will mandate certain procedural requirements of redistricting- like boundaries that best adhere to existing local jurisdictiins, and no consideration of partisan gain. of course, it’s not all that could be accomplished by an independent redistricting committee, but it is an improvment, and will allow some accountability. we also hope to produce our own nonpartisan maps for comparison.
I hope Common Cause has success with those principles and uses them to build a broad base of alliances.
Who needs to be fair! This is the summer of the long Knive’s. Cut up the districts of those who oppose the general will of the majority and protect those who have power. The majority has the mandate of the people, and if they do not use this mandate to punish the evil doers they will have that mantle taken away from them.
Agreed. “Redistricting” and”Fairness” should never be mentioned in the same sentence, this one included. Ask Roy Barnes. He would say the same thing.
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