Monday, August 17, 2015

Does AZ redistricting commission differ from proposed OH commission?



ARIZONA
Proposition 106, vesting redistricting authority in the AIRC, was adopted by citizen initiative in 2000 against a “background of recurring redistricting turmoil” in Arizona. 

¶18. The highest ranking officer and minor­ity leader of each chamber of the legislature each select one member of the AIRC from a list compiled by Arizona’s Commission on Appellate Court Appointments. ¶¶4–7. The four appointed members of the AIRC then choose, from the same list, the fifth member, who chairs the Commission. ¶


¶23.
Holders of, or candidates for, public office may not serve on the AIRC, except candidates for or members of a school board. ¶3. No more than two members of the Commission may be members of the same political party, ibid., and the presiding fifth member cannot be registered with any party already represented on the Commission, ¶8. Subject to the concurrence of two-thirds of the Arizona Senate, AIRC members may be removed by the Arizona Governor for gross misconduct, substantial neglect of duty, or inabil­ ity to discharge the duties of office. ¶10.5

OHIO  -  following quote from BALLOTPEDIA 
"The Ohio Bipartisan Redistricting Commission Amendment is on the November 3, 2015 ballot in Ohio as a legislatively-referred constitutional amendment. The measure, upon voter approval, would create a bipartisan redistricting commission, the Ohio Redistricting Commission, to draw state legislative districts. The measure would also establish new requirements for district standards.[1][2]
The Ohio Redistricting Commission would consist of the following seven members: the GovernorState AuditorSecretary of State, one person appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one person appointed by the legislative leader of the largest political party in the house of which the speaker is not a member, one person appointed by the President of the Ohio Senate and one person appointed by the legislative leader of the largest political party in the senate of which the president is not a member.[1]"    (end quote)

  1. GOV = R
  2. AUDITOR = R
  3. SEC. OF STATE = R
  4. APPOINTED BY SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE = R
  5. APPOINTED BY PARTY OF WHICH SPEAKER IS NOT A MEMBER = D
  6. APPOINTED BY PRESIDENT OF OHIO SENATE = R
  7. APPOINTED BY PARTY IN SENATE OF WHICH THE PRESIDENT IS NOT A MEMBER = D

The current redistricting board is 4 Republicans and 1 Democrat...
The new board will be 5 Republicans and 2 Democrats ...
I do not see much difference between the old and the new method, especially when I consider the new legislation allows the redistricting plan to be used for 4 years IF the commission fails to pass a bipartisan vote. A simple majority vote is all that will be required in that case.
The Arizona plan says holders of or candidates for public office may not serve on the Arizona Redistricting Commission. Ohio's plan names top 5 ranking office holders and 2 minority office holders. ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS 
Ohio's "new" plan is not so new after all. There isn't much difference between getting beat 5 to 2 or 4 to 1. The so called new plan still allows for partisan control of the process by elected officials. Which is exactly the opposite of Arizona's reform plan. 
Which state will likely end gerrymandering? 
Passing a bill that gives voters the wrong idea is political chicanery. Voters who vote for this bill to pass will walk away thinking they have done something to fix the problem of gerrymandering. How many years will it take for voters to see the truth?

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It's not the size of the dog in the fight that matters........ it's the size of the fight in the dog that determines the winner. Mark Twain