Making a bad thing worse

Ten years ago new congressional and state legislative district lines were drawn to adjust for population changes reflected in the 2000 census. Those lines were very good for officeholders and very bad for any voter who didn’t feel well represented and longed for a fresh face.
Despite the fact approval ratings for Congress have been steadily declining and this year reached an all-time low of 12 percent, the congressional district lines drawn in 2001 made it virtually impossible for voters to dislodge an incumbent House member. The boundaries were manipulated to make districts safer for both Democratic and Republican members. There were no competitive elections in any of Wisconsin’s eight U.S. House districts in 2002, none in 2004, one in 2006, none in 2008 and three in 2010.
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Posted on October 27, 2011 by
NEWS RELEASE                                                                   July 12, 2011

Alternative Map Supported by Make Our Votes Count

The following statement was issued today by Make Our Votes Count, the citizen coalition of Republicans, Democrats and independents (makeourvotescount.com/about):
Today the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign unveiled an alternative to the gerrymandered legislative redistricting maps offered by GOP leaders. The proposed maps highlight an ability to create many competitive districts in both the Assembly and the Senate.
”The maps put forward by the Democracy Campaign are a perfect example of how competitive Wisconsin can be,” group leader Bill Kraus said. “We’ve seen time and again how politics gets in the way of redistricting and these maps prove that it doesn’t necessarily have to be that way.”

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Posted on July 12, 2011 by

Upset about Redistricting in Wisconsin? Let them know. The ONE and ONLY public hearing for redistricting has been announced. Please Attend!

The committee will hold a public hearing at the time specified below:

Wednesday, July 13, 2011
10:00 AM
412 East
State Capitol

 

Posted on July 11, 2011 by
NEWS RELEASE                                                                                      July 8, 2011

Redistricting Power Grab by GOP Leaders 

The following statement was issued today by Make Our Votes Count, the citizen coalition of Republicans, Democrats and independents (makeourvotescount.com/about):
The introduction of the redistricting map late on a Friday afternoon by GOP leaders shows profound disrespect and a lack of regard for the citizens of Wisconsin.  The process of legislative redistricting has commonly and consistently been completed following the drawing of local community level boundaries in Wisconsin.  The 2011 redistricting process should be no different.
It is a critical mistake to expedite redistricting, as this does not come at the benefit of the voting public. There is no plausible way citizens will have the opportunity to come to grips with the ramifications of this map in just a matter of days.
What we are seeing is a maneuver designed by those currently controlling the legislature to force a plan for political gain. The only plausible explanation for the timing of the map’s introduction is to ensure a partisan redistricting plan is approved before the upcoming recall elections that could shift control of the state senate.
It is imperative that lawmakers give the public ample time and opportunity to review and respond to any proposed redistricting plan before it is acted upon.  The process needs to be transparent and citizen input must be sought and seriously considered.
Posted on July 8, 2011 by
NEWS RELEASE                                                                                                            June 28, 2011

Citizens and Legislators Join in Support of Redistricting Reform Measure Based on Iowa’s Non-Partisan Process

Madison, WI–Today members of the Make Our Votes Count Committee and sponsors of the redistricting reform legislation, including Senator Fred Risser and Representatives  Brett Hulsey and Mark Pocan, introduced this measure. The reform bill would have the district lines drawn by a non-partisan body and voted up or down by the state Legislature.
“We need to update a process that is largely done behind closed doors and at great expense to taxpayers,” University of Wisconsin political science professor and Make Our Votes Count advisory member David Canon said. “It is time we open up how redistricting is done in Wisconsin and this bill does just that.”
Former Republican Assemblyman David Martin echoed Canon’s sentiment ”Look no further than our neighbors in Iowa.  An independent, non-partisan commission works and has proven effective over time.”

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Posted on June 28, 2011 by
NEWS RELEASE                                                                                                               June 15, 2011

Reported Congressional Redistricting Plan Cause For Concern

The following statement was issued today by Make Our Votes Count, the new citizen coalition of Republicans, Democrats and independents (makeourvotescount.com/about):
It is becoming increasingly clear that the current round of Congressional redistricting in Wisconsin will mirror tactics of past cycles.  The latest indication comes in the form of a redistricting plan that is reportedly being circulated privately among Wisconsin members of Congress.
In the proposed plan, Republican Sean Duffy would essentially trade the highly Democratic county of Portage with Democrat Ron Kind.  Duffy in turn gains the rapidly growing Republican county of St. Croix.  If this plan is indeed implemented, it effectively makes both districts safer for the incumbents, a classic gerrymander.
This is yet another example of why the redistricting process must be taken out of the hands of the politicians who have a vested interest in designing district lines that are conducive to their own reelection. Wisconsin must follow the lead of neighboring Iowa and put redistricting in the hands of a nonpartisan agency.
Posted on June 15, 2011 by

Bill Kraus and the Make Our Votes Count Committee: A better way to redistrict

The Capital Times | Opinion
As the state Legislature continues to push through the governor’s budget, one distinctly non-budgetary item may be included in that legislation: the decennial redrawing of state legislative district lines. Redistricting has no place in the budget. This move would be unprecedented and could lead to legal challenges down the road.
A group of protesters brought brooms to the state Capitol in Madison in October 2005 to demonstrate for sweeping the Legislature of special interest campaign cash and corruption.
Redistricting follows a standard sequence of steps. After the census data are made available to the states, local governments create the local ward lines, which become the building blocks for state legislative districts. Including redistricting in the budget would skip this critical step and create all kinds of problems.
This attempted move is only the most recent example of how redistricting serves the interests of politicians rather than voters. It is time to fix the system.
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Posted on June 13, 2011 by