I cannot figure this out but . . . . .

Did anyone else get this?


Dear XXXXXX,

I am writing to let you know that this afternoon we are going to join forces with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to put an end to California's failed system for drawing Congressional and state Legislative boundaries. Together we are going to call on California legislators to support a joint plan to establish an independent redistricting panel of nonpartisan judges and to create fair criteria that will lead to more electoral competition and more accountability to the voters.

According to Governor Schwarzenegger California voters have little ability to hold their elected officials accountable:

Here is a telling statistic: 153 of California's congressional and legislative seats were up in the last election, and not one, I repeat, not one, changed parties. What kind of democracy is that?

We can't agree more with the Governor. The current system is democracy turned on its head. We can't have fair districts when elected officials choose the voters that they want to represent. It's supposed to work the other way around, where voters choose those they want to represent them. The results in California, where elected officials are virtually assured of re-election, show that the system is broken. We need to put the power to draw political lines into the hands of truly independent commissions. And not just in California, but all across the country in states like Florida and in Texas. We need to put the power of the vote back in the hands of the voter.

For us, the partnership with Gov. Schwarzenegger and the California reform effort is just a start. It marks the beginning of our national campaign to take the redistricting process out of the hands of state legislators and to entrust independent commissions with the task. Right now there are at least a dozen states where redistricting legislation and ballot initiatives are in play or have come under consideration. We are going to aggressively push for reform not just in California, but also in Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York and Texas .

For the sake of our democracy, it is imperative we strive to create legislative and congressional districts that are representative of the population and districting plans that result in more competitive congressional and legislative elections. So, I hope you will join us and support our effort in the coming months as we push for independent commissions and other steps necessary to ensure that the redistricting process isn't a political game.

Meanwhile, please share with us your thoughts, feedback, and suggestions on our blog concerning our efforts to fix this broken system. We want to hear from you. We will be reading your questions, comments, and suggestions. Your feedback will enable us to better focus our advocacy efforts on redistricting this year and beyond.


Thank you for all you do for Common Cause.
Sincerely,

Chellie Pingree
President & CEO, Common Cause

Support Common Cause:
www.commoncause.org/Support



Okay,Common Cause is confusing me these days. A couple of
weeks ago they put out a letter supporting the voting machines
and now this. I guess something like this really can be done
in a non-partisan way, but with Arnold? What is the
likelihood that the real goal is a balance for the people and
not for a particular party? And aren't there laws about when
redistricting can take place? And since Texas just
redistricted (kind of illegally I might add), how can they do
it again? I am just trying to make sure CC hasn't changed its
stripes and would love to hear some opinions on this.

Thanks.








Edited to remove name.

ACLU...the Dem party. The nazis have infiltrated just about every organization that was developed by and for the liberal or Democratic leaning folks.

Common Cause should be ashamed.

:kick::kick::kick:

wasn't there a warning in the blog about a letter asking for support of voting reform in CA that was really a rw scam.

promptly deleted it.

that I would appreciate if you could post it.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=141&topic_id=6928

This is a link not to support the Governator replacement for Shelley,
it definitely states that he is not on the side of reform.

:bounce:

to all the comments they have been getting....
"Thanks for all the comments guys. We totally understand some of the concerns you are expressing right here. However, I would encourage all of you to take a look at what we and the Governor have agreed to do.

First, it establishes an independent commission. Second, it establishes fair and stringent standards for how the districts are to be drawn in California. This law would be one of the most fair, nonpartisan and best laws on redistricting in the country. This is the way it should be done.

Politicians in California, in Texas, in Florida, and in nearly every state in the country have demonstrated that they can't do this in a fair and equitable way. This is not remotely the same what DeLay and co. did in Texas. This is good policy and the voters, people who are losing under the current system (including the folks in Florida and in Texas) have to pass this at the ballot box.

That's what we are working to do here, independence and fairness. Please, have a look at the nonpartisan commission this sets up. Have a look at the criteria. Getting this right in California, and yes, in Texas, is worth fighting for."

I still think they are being AARP stupid for helping be the excuse for re redistricting in CA.

we have an idea of what we are up against - slowly but surely, everyone is defecting (IMO).