California should avoid revenge policy by redistributing wars

By Jeanne Raya, special for Calmatters

This comment was originally published by CalmattersS Register about their ballots.

In 2008, the first voter law created the Commission for Redistribution of California Citizens, an independent body consisting of people who reflect the diversity of the state. Good state groups pushed the measure of voting forward, striving to make sure that the voters were placed first. Two years later, I served the first committee.

The approval of the voters of an independent committee effectively put an end to the political Germander of the back room that characterized California redistribution For decades.

Commission members draws new cards With full transparency, providing access to citizens to more than 100 public meetings and various ways to send written comments. Voters could describe their communities, their environment, infrastructure and economy, so that the Commission can create areas that give them a fair chance to choose responsible representatives.

Fair Maps was challenging but a rewarding experience that took almost a year. The California Commission is now considered a gold standard for redistribution, with no guerrilla personal interest and is conducted entirely in public views.

If it is only Texas It can be learned from California. There, the current attempt of legislators to set the election in 2026 in favor of Republicans – in President Donald Trump’s request -It is the most basic personal interest of officials, so fear of losing power, all they can think is to cheat.

Their determination to arrange the congress deck prompted governor Gavin News yes threaten vengeful redistribution in the middle of the California cycleTo choose more Democrats. He proposes to eliminate the independent committee and to hold special elections for approving new cards prepared by the legislators “Only once”.

As a registered Democrat, I would celebrate to replace Congress members who have forgotten their oath to serve voters and protect the Constitution. But this cannot be at the expense of the California Constitution – neither its voters, who ordered a fair, non -partisan redistribution.

NEWSOM says the threat of Republicans in Texas calls for revenge for revengeS Witnesses to the daily life of chaos and distrust created by the policy of revenge in Washington. This is not the model of responsible governmental Californians deserves. It is not worth spending millions of dollars to taxpayers to bet that different areas of congress will lead to the change.

Does the governor want to risk losing activities in more competitive areas or not to choose the magical number of Democrats needed to win this election war against Texas – and who knows how many other red countries?

Newsom says that if the American people get a fair chance, voice and choice, Democrats can return Congress. In California, people already have such a chance – this is the independent redistribution committee.

We know that the cards are already attracted to California, while Newsom is waiting for Texas to pull the trigger. But he may have to consider a different response to the redistribution of war.

Reporter Kevin Kili has proposed legislation to a ban on redistribution in the middle of decades across the countryS I do not know what brought to this moment Kili, a Republican of the Pleisher County, but given the national solution to a national problem would be welcome.

Californians must require Newsom and legislative leaders to observe the will of people, not sacrificing the independent commission on redistribution, nor the limited financial resources of the state, for short -term political profit. The limited financial resources of the state, for short -term political profit.

This article was Originally Published on CalMatters and was reissued under Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Noderivatives License.