Redistricting Under Voters First Act Threatens Democratic Control of California State Legislature

To Speaker Pelosi´s dismay, proponents now work to add Congress to Proposition 11 coverage.

As census outreach workers begin their efforts to ensure that everyone is counted and the California State Auditor finalizes the regulations and applications for the First Citizens Redistricting Commission under the so-called "California Voters First Act," Democratic political insiders are worried that the Democratic Party´s margin in the California state legislature will be reduced and the Democrats will be even further from the 2/3 majority vote needed to pass a budget.

While litigation to block implementation is anticipated, experts from both parties think it likely that there will be at least one election cycle in the districts drawn by the Commission created under the Schwarzenegger-supported Proposition 11 redistricting rules.

While supported by a large group of non-partisan organizations, relatively few Democratic officials and party activists supported Prop 11 because of its potentially devastating effect on the Democratic Party and its governing majority in the legislature. Some insiders have postulated that his support of Prop 11 is a key reason why Steve Westly has found it impossible to re-enter the gubernatorial fray this election cycle.

Some partisan Republicans are also concerned that Prop 11 will hurt their chances of electing the most conservative candidates in some districts. But given the Republican´s small numbers in the legislature, it is not surprising that the fallout from redistricting under Prop 11 rules is largely a Democratic Party problem.

Although not strongly opposed by Congressional Democrats, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi, because Prop 11 redistricting did not affect Congressional races, a number of organizations are already discussing the circulation and passage of a similar non-partisan commission for Congressional Districts in California. The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee reports that, "A prominent supporter of redistricting reform in California has filed a ballot initiative to require a bipartisan commission to conduct congressional redistricting in the state." The new measure would add congressional districts to the commission´s jurisdiction: "Charles T. Munger Jr., son of a billionaire and key supporter of the November 2008 Proposition 11 redistricting initiative, on Wednesday asked the state Attorney General's office for an official title and summary for his proposal. The new initiative, called the "Voters First Act for Congress," is aimed at the November 2010 ballot."

Many Democrats agree that the passage of Prop 11 has opened a Pandora´s Box for the Democratic Party. Information highlighting prominent Prop 11 supporters, including Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Gary Toebben (L.A. Chamber of Commerce), Tom Nassif (Western Growers), Teresa Casazza (California Taxpayers Association), and former state Controller Steve Westly can be found on the Internet.

Individuals opposed to Prop 11 include U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer; House Speaker Nancy Pelosi; Lt. Governor John Garamendi; CDP Chair John Burton; Former CDP Chair Art Torres; Former Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez; Former California State Senate President Don Perata; Arturo Vargas, Executive Director of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Educational Fund; CDP Vice-Chair Eric Bauman; CDP Vice-Chair Alexandra "Alex" Gallardo-Rooker; former CDP Vice-Chair Alicia Wang; DNC Member Chris Stampolis; Steve Maviglio, former Deputy Chief of Staff to Assembly Speaker Karen Bass; Jay Hansen, State Building and Construction Trades Council; and Henry L. "Hank" Lacayo, President, Congress of California Seniors.

Organizations opposed to Prop 11 include the California Democratic Party (CDP), California Federation of Teachers, California State Firefighters Association, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees AFL-CIO (AFSCME), California Labor Federation, NAACP, Asian Pacific American Legal Center of Southern California, Teamsters Joint Council 42, Stonewall Democratic Club, California Young Democrats (CYD), Progressive Democrats of Los Angeles, Progressive Democrats of the Santa Monica Mountains, Lake County Stonewall Democratic Club, California League of Conservation Voters, Democratic Party of San Fernando Valley (DPSFV), Los Angeles County Democratic Party (LACDP), San Diego County Democratic Party, San Diego Democratic Club, Trinity County Democratic Central Committee, United Farm Workers, United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), and the California Correctional Peace Officers Association (CCPOA).

Notes/Links:

Capitol Weekly: New redistricting initiative targets Congressional seats

Sacramento Bee: Prop 11 proponent files congressional redistricting initiative

Join Arnold: Schwarzenegger Kicks Off Signature Drive For California Voters First Act

Sacramento Bee: Prop. 11 Gets Big GOP Money Push

California Chamber of Commerce: State Auditor Encourages Business Interest in Citizens Redistricting Commission

Ballotpedia: Prop 11 Opponents

California Taxpayers Association Supports Prop 11

Progressive Democrats of LA Votes NO on Schwarzenegger´s PROP 11 Redistricting

Democratic Underground: CA Redistricting Prop. 11 Snake in the Grass

Schwarzenegger Offers a Plan to Redraw Districts

Wall Street Journal: California Initiative Targets Redistricting Practices

CDP Chair Art Torres Opposed to Redistricting Prop 11

Calitics: Even More Reasons to Vote No on Prop 11