Posted on 10/10/2017 2:54:49 PM PDT by iowamark
It is a privilege to live in a country where someone like myself, raised by parents with 10th grade educations, can live the American dream. I am a small businessman, a coach, a father, a husband -- not a career politician. I ran for office because I believe in the American dream -- the faith that education, initiative, and hard work can earn anyone a better life in this country -- is a dream worth defending. I was raised to believe that in America, the greatest country on Earth, each of us has a voice in our government. This is guaranteed by our Constitutional right to vote, but excessive partisan gerrymandering poses a threat to the responsive, accountable, and representative government we hold dear.
The Declaration of Independence guarantees that “Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed." The Constitution assures this through Article IV’s Guarantee Clause -- the promise of a republican form of government. It is this Constitution, which we as members of Congress, take an oath to uphold the day we assume office. It is time for Congress to defend this sacred oath and ensure our legislature properly represents constituents from every corner of the country rather than the interests of political parties.
Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, too many politicians don’t want a free and open system where those who are governed -- the voters -- have a truly free choice for those who represent and make laws for them. Instead, Democrat and Republican politicians alike often game the system so, to the extent possible, they can choose their own districts and ensure they stay in power. Today’s powerful technology and voter information allows lawmakers to rig and game the system in ways that never before could have been imagined.
A recent survey conducted by a bipartisan team of pollsters shows that the American people are fed up with politicians manipulating the maps to design their own districts, and want the Supreme Court to act. By an overwhelming margin of 71 percent - 15 percent, Americans want the Supreme Court to place limits on lawmakers’ ability to manipulate voting maps. This includes 80 percent of Democrats, 68 percent of Independents and 65 percent of Republicans. What’s more, by a margin of 62 percent - 10 percent, voters are less likely to support a candidate who is supportive of partisan gerrymandering and by an even greater margin (73 percent - 14 percent) prefer removing partisan bias from redistricting, even if it means their preferred political party will win fewer seats.
On Oct. 3, 2017, the Supreme Court will hear verbal argument in the Gill v. Whitford partisan gerrymandering case. I was proud to join a bipartisan group of 36 past and current members of Congress in signing an amicus brief in support of eliminating extreme partisan gerrymandering.
When I started a software company seventeen years ago, one of the first things I learned was: if I didn’t listen to my customers, I wouldn’t have a successful business. I am honored to represent a competitive district drawn by a nonpartisan redistricting commission. Furthermore, Iowa’s system has led to some of the nation’s most competitive races. In a country where the vast majority of members of Congress coast to reelection, most of Iowa’s congressional races are perennially close. The competitive nature of my district requires me to listen to all my constituents and take their views into account, much like a small businessman must listen to his customers.
My ability to maintain an independent voice -- joining my party when it makes sense, and breaking away when it’s the right thing to do for my constituents -- is supported by these non-partisan practices. Yet too many states allow the political party in charge to cut and slice the maps in ways that benefit them.
We have crucial decisions before us in Congress. We need to reform healthcare, strengthen our immigration system, implement tax reform and drain the swamp, but too many Americans don’t trust Congress to act in their interest and do the people’s work. To win back the public’s trust, reforming the way Congress does business needs to be front and center.
Having supported several bills to eliminate congressional perks, such as taxpayer-funded first-class flights, Cadillac pension plans, and luxury car leases for members, I personally know how difficult it is to find members of either party willing to support efforts which benefit their constituents rather than their own careers. I’m especially proud to have joined Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) in co-founding the House Term Limits Caucus to ensure our legislature is made up of citizens, not a ruling class of political elites.
If the Supreme Court limits the most extreme partisan gerrymandering, it will be a powerful step in the direction of restoring trust, and ensures the promise of America that Abraham Lincoln reminded the citizenry of at Gettysburg, "government of the people, by the people, for the people.”
I am sorry. The source publication is The Hill.
So vote the change, don't go begging on your knees for mercy from the kings and queens of the court.
The first US gerrymander was by Patrick Henry to keep James Madison out of the House of Representatives.
That’s a pedigree few political acts can match!
(It failed BTW).
Any limits would have to be very lenient.
“If the Supreme Court limits the most extreme partisan gerrymandering, it will be a powerful step in the direction of restoring trust, and ensures the promise of America that Abraham Lincoln reminded the citizenry of at Gettysburg, government of the people, by the people, for the people.”
UTTER BS. It will be another step towards a supreme judicial rule. Instead we should return to a true electoral vote for president and appointment of senators by the states.
I wonder how the CBC (Congressional Black Caucus) feels about the potential defenestration of their ranks if the US Supreme Court rules against ‘extreme’ gerrymandering?
That's what puzzles me about this whole thing. I thought the Civil Rights Act guaranteed some "black" districts which led to ridiculous gerrymandering to create them.
See my simple paragraph below to explain it.
Gerrymandering to make a black district is good .
Gerrymandering to make a Hispanic district is good
Gerrymandering to elect a democrat is good.
GERRYMANDERING TO ELECT A CONSERVATIVE IS BAD BAD BAD AND WORSE.
—you’ve got it —it’s reprehensible when done by Repubs but okay when the Democraps do it-—
My thought on the headline was “Right, the USSC not only allowed gerrymandering, but demanded it.”
Of course the point of gerrymandering is to make it so you CAN’T vote the change. Also both parties love the system as is, making it even tougher to vote any change.
Gerrymandering sucks!!! Unless it benefits a democrat. Call me skeptical of the motives here. The Dems knownthey have utterly lost rural America and desperately want to turn us into a nation ruled by costal city states.
Several of those are Voting Rights Act districts designed to specifically elect Blacks or Hispanics. If they were to be diluted, they risk the GOP districts that often surround them.
Bingo.
And, the Barney Frank district became weird during his time in office (to protect him). MA lost a seat or two during that time.
for nearly 100 years Democrats gerrymandered to maintain power... but now that Republicans are in charge... things MUST change.
BS
leave it alone for the next 90+ years to equal things out!
Democrats are just angry they ignored the state elections, got BTFO, and now are powerless to stop redistricting from retrenching the GOP’s majority.
They focused too much on illegals tipping the demographics and that cities are all you need to win.
More rearranging of deckchairs on a sinking ship. So they’ll limit gerrymandering to make elections more competitive amongst uniparty candidates.
Rah.
There used to be (still is?) one in Florida that narrowed down to the width of railroad tracks, then opened up to pick up individual houses.
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