CA: Schwarzenegger pitches redistricting plan in radio speech

Bakersfield Californian ^ | 3/26/05 | Don Thompson - AP

[NormsRevenge]

SACRAMENTO (AP) - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger used both his weekly radio address Saturday and his official Easter Sunday message to promote changes he is proposing in the way Californians select their representatives and govern their state.

The Republican governor argued in his radio address that it is unfair the way legislative and congressional districts are drawn, noting that not one of the 153 congressional and legislative seats up for election last November changed political parties.

Politicians now create the districts in which they will seek office, he noted, "so that they could pick the voters rather than the voters picking the politicians. This is not democracy."

That leaves few doubts which political party will control a particular seat, or even which party will win a legislative majority, Schwarzenegger said, echoing widespread criticism from government reformers.

While Democrats who control the Legislature generally agree with the critics, they disagree with Schwarzenegger's proposed solution, particularly its timing.

The governor wants districts redrawn by an independent panel of retired judges, which he said would remove partisanship and create competitive districts.

But Schwarzenegger wants the new districts before next year's elections, when he would have to seek re-election, instead of waiting until after the next census in 2010, when lines would traditionally be redrawn.

In his Easter message, Schwarzenegger said Easter is often seen as "a time for change and renewal," and asked Californians to back his proposals to limit government spending, increase the time it takes for teachers to earn tenure, privatize public pensions and change the way congressional and legislative districts are drawn.

Schwarzenegger is promoting signature collections to put all four measures before voters in a special election this fall, even as he spars with Democratic leaders over his proposed changes.

The state Legislature was on its spring break last week, and Democratic Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles, did not distribute his usual weekly radio address.

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On the Net:

Listen to the governor's address at http://speeches.gov.ca.gov/dir/03-26%20Radio%20Redistricting%20edited.mp3

[EagleUSA]

Yes, the Govinator knew this going in -- the libs have redistricted all the districts they could to swing their liberal voters to a position of dominance....some even created new districts which are mainly MEXICAN IMMIGRANTS.

Yep, Arnie inherited a real pile of excrement when we threw Criminal Davis out of office. $30 BILLION plus in debt, more illegal Mexicans than he can imagine what to do with (I can), the worst government school system in the country, runaway state taxation, businesses leaving almost as fast as illegal Mexicans are streaming into the state, and....well you know the rest.

[BurbankErnie]

Personally, I am backing Arnie on this and the other three measures he wants added to the Ballot.

[janetgreen]

$30 BILLION plus in debt, more illegal Mexicans than he can imagine what to do with (I can), the worst government school system in the country, runaway state taxation, businesses leaving almost as fast as illegal Mexicans are streaming into the state, and....well you know the rest.

You hit the nail! We Californians know the rest, and it's a mess that no one in our government wants to speak out about.

[StoneColdGOP]

Redistrict now!