Missouri Republicans are moving forward to redraw US House districts

At least two groups are considering a petition drive to force a referendum vote on the map once it is signed into law. If they successfully gather enough signatures, the map would be frozen until an up-or-down statewide vote is held next year.

“I expect a citizens referendum as soon as this passes the Senate,” said House Minority Leader Ashley Aune, a Kansas City Democrat.

Jake Hummel, president of the Missouri AFL-CIO, said that while he hasn’t talked directly with his members about whether to initiate a referendum, “I have a pretty strong feeling they will.”

Richard von Glahn, executive director of an organization called People NOT Politicians, said if lawmakers insist on moving forward with a gerrymandered congressional map, “the people have other tools — including legal action and a referendum. Missourians are ready to defend democracy.”

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Doug64 said:

At this rate, the Red states are going to be as gerrymandered as the Blue states.

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Brack said:

The Missouri GOP controlled House voted yesterday to approve a new US Congressional map that aims to do away with a Democrat US House seat. Link
In Missouri, Democrats currently hold 2 out of the 8 Congressional districts, which is 25% of the Congressional districts. During last year's election, House Missouri Democrats received 38.5% of the vote while Harris received about 40% of the vote from that state. But Missouri Republicans want to take away a Dem US House seat while giving another US House seat for their party.

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ColdHardTruth said:

This needs to be blocked and all blue states need to redistrict republicans out of office.

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Brack said:

If CA Proposition 50 passes, it will likely result with 4 or 5 House Republicans losing their seats. Back when I was in California, I remember voting for the two propositions that did away with partisan districting by the politicians in that state. I don't believe that politicians should be drawing district boundaries in any state.

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Brack said:

Politicians shouldn't be drawing Congressional districts boundaries whether they be Democrats or Republicans. States such as Colorado, Arizona and California have an Independent commission that draws the district boundaries. That should be the way to do it in all of the states.

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Doug64 said:

That "bipartisan" districting in California gave the Democrats almost 13 more House seats than they should have (going by Trump's margin of defeat). Such commissions are only as "bipartisan" as the people appointed to them. You are better off setting rules governing how the districts are to be drawn, then leave it to the legislatures. Something similar to what Utah has (thanks to some judges).

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Brack said:

In Utah, Salt Lake County is divided into four Congressional districts. Harris won Salt Lake County by 10.1% while Trump won Utah by 20.23%. All four of Utah's Congressional seats are currently represented by Republicans. And Utah's Congressional map has been ruled illegal. Link

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Those with the authority to appoint members to the commission are required to appoint members at least 30 days after the state Legislature receives the decennial U.S. census report. The commission are required to select between one and three plans, with the vote of at least five members, to submit to the chief justice of the Utah Supreme Court. The chief justice is responsible for determining if the commission's plans meet redistricting standards. The commission will then forward the plans to the Utah State Legislature, which may decide whether to accept, amend, or reject the plans.

Proposition 4 was designed to establish standards for the redistricting process in the following order of priority:

(a) adhering to federal law and achieving equal population between districts;
(b) minimizing divisions of municipalities and counties across multiple districts;
(c) making districts geographically compact;
(d) making districts that are contiguous and allow for ease of transport throughout the district;
(e) preserving traditional neighborhoods and local communities of interest;
(f) following natural and geographic boundaries, barriers, and features; and
(g) maximizing the agreement of boundaries between different types of districts.

Proposition 4 prohibited the redistricting commission from dividing districts to favor an incumbent elected official, a candidate, or a political party. Proposition 4 also required the commission to use "judicial standards and the best available data and scientific and statistical methods" to draft maps.

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Nixon said:

Good!

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