http://news.yahoo.com/high-court-case-threatens-independent-electoral-map-drawers-124915240--politics.html
WASHINGTON (AP) — In a reversal of the usual worries about political influence on electoral map-making, the Supreme Court is being asked to let raw politics play an even bigger role in the drawing of congressional district boundaries.
The court hears argument Monday in an appeal by Republican lawmakers in Arizona against the state's voter-approved independent redistricting commission for creating the districts of U.S. House members. A decision striking down the commission probably would doom a similar system in neighboring California, and could affect districting commissions in 11 other states.
The court previously has closed the door to lawsuits challenging excessive partisanship in redistricting, or gerrymandering. A gerrymandered district is intentionally drawn, and sometimes oddly shaped, to favor one political party.
Independent commissions such as Arizona's "may be the only meaningful check" left to states that want to foster more competitive elections, reduce political polarization and bring fresh faces into the political process, the Obama administration said.
The court fight has one odd aspect: California Republicans are rooting against Arizona Republicans.
i find it so offensive that the scotus sliced out voter rights sect 4n than saw within hours places like No. Carolina immediately go back to suppressing the voters they were accused of doing but the scotus 5 republicans didn't see why they should reverse their decision because if they didn't see it before they certainly don't see it now, right wing policy ignores their most egregious agenda denying the Progressive vote. now they are on their way to gerrymandering again adding more locked states for them 2016 2 years away and already they are cheating Americans of their right to vote and have fair elections, silencing millions of votes with skulduggery is not a win its a reprehensible deception.
Independent commissions such as Arizona's "may be the only meaningful check" left to states that want to foster more competitive elections, reduce political polarization and bring fresh faces into the political process, the Obama administration said.
The court fight has one odd aspect: California Republicans are rooting against Arizona Republicans.
If the Republicans who control Arizona's Legislature prevail, the process for drawing district lines in California for the nation's largest congressional delegation, with 53 members, would returned to the heavily Democratic Legislature. Three former California governors, all Republicans, filed a brief with the court defending the independent redistricting commission that voters created in 2008.
California' GOP chairman, Jim Brulte, though officially neutral, said "most of us understand that this could have a negative effect on Republicans in California."
"Redistricting is perhaps the most political activity that government can engage in and a partisan gerrymander of the congressional seats could lead to more Democrats in Congress from California," he said.
but in this case where those that have gained control and silenced the voices of those Americans effected i think fire with fire is called for they smiled when they did it claiming Americans voted them back in truth was they moved the pawns on the chess board if we have to move them back or level the field more power to them they at least are fighting to give us back a voice at the voting booth republican snatch it and don't intend to give it back. two wrongs don't make a right but sometimes they make things right. recognize
