ALEC's No. 1 priority: Gerrymandering to lock Democrats out for another decade

[babylonsister]

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/10/22/1894139/-ALEC-s-1-priority-Gerrymandering-to-lock-Democrats-out-for-another-decade


ALEC's No. 1 priority: Gerrymandering to lock Democrats out for another decade
Joan McCarter
Daily Kos Staff
Tuesday October 22, 2019 · 11:01 AM EDT


In early August 2019, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) held its annual meeting of a couple of hundred Republican lawmakers in Austin, Texas. There, they focused on one primary thing: the "political adult bloodsport," as one attendee called it, of gerrymandering, or how to lock in Republican power across the nation for another decade following the 2020 election and census.

Reported Talking Points Memo, "Led by Phil King, the Texas House redistricting chair and one of ALEC's most influential members, and Hans von Spakovsky, a conservative attorney and voter fraud alarmist, the speakers prepared attendees to be on the defensive and ready for litigation when they draw districts." That's what we know about what happened at the conference via a few leaks from attendees and from reporters who were allowed on the outskirts. Behind closed doors, though, is where most of the discussions happened. Legislators were told not to hang on to their notes from the meetings and to avoid discussing redistricting in emails with one another to ensure that the public could never learn what they're plotting.

"I have no doubt that there were a million things happening behind closed doors that we didn't know about," Anthony Gutierrez, executive director of Common Cause Texas, told Talking Points Memo. One thing that emerged from the leaks was a discussion of how legislators could exact the most control possible and thwart potential Democratic attorneys general in their states. "Be sure that your redistricting bill has a provision in it that says that you, the legislature, have the ability to defend any lawsuits filed against your redistricting plan and that you will have control of that over and above the state attorney general," von Spakovsky said.

This is all predicated on the assumption that Republicans control key legislatures, like in Texas or Virginia, state houses that could very well flip. That's just one of the reasons Daily Kos is working on flipping Virginia’s legislature this year and getting a head start on Texas with Eliz Markowitz's special election happening this fall.

These are immediate steps we can take to stop the Republicans’ nefarious plans, setting up for massive wins in 2020. Avoiding another decade of the GOP's stranglehold on our democracy is critical. We do it by beating them and not letting them keep cheating.

[blm]

1. This is how ALEC came to control NC

[Claritie Pixie]

2. Holder/Obama group AOTL is working to counteract ALEC.

"Over the past decade, we’ve seen firsthand how gerrymandering plays a role in blocking progress on issues that the majority of Americans agreed on. Republicans in the House of Representatives refused to vote on common-sense gun laws, blocked meaningful action on climate change, and tried again and again to repeal the Affordable Care Act and strip down the security it offers to millions of Americans.
Progress on so many of the issues we care about was hurt or hindered by gerrymandering — by politicians who knew their seats were safe from any real challenge. Because when you’ve got a safe seat, you’ve got less reason to seek out common ground.
But with All On The Line leading the way, we can change things. We can make sure our democracy works for everybody." - President Obama

https://medium.com/allontheline

[zipplewrath]

3. It will get worse

By 2040, 70% of the population will live in just 8 states. Which means that roughly 70 percent of the population will control just 30% of the Senate. This is going to be a serious problem. The GOP figured this out 15 years ago and worked to gain control of just enough states to have an EC and Senate advantage despite realizing they could never form anything close to a majority. They have gone off the rails and no longer believe in the "loyal minority" concept.

[Garrett78]

5. I think it's more like 67% will live in 15 states. But, yeah, this is the elephant in the room.

This is a big reason why the Republican Party isn't afraid to become increasingly batshit insane. We have a tyranny of the minority system. The very reasons why we need major structural reform are what make it nearly impossible to bring about such reforms.

[zipplewrath]

6. Yup, it may take civil "violence"

I don't thing a civil "war" is coming, but regular actions of extreme violence may be the only way that the necessary changes come. My only real hope is that it is long after I am dead.

[walkingman]

4. With SCOTUS giving the green light on gerrymandering and the continued effort to supress the vote

Texas will redraw the maps and you can count on it. The GOP knows that without gerrymandering and voter suppression they cannot control the lege - these are some nasty bastards are not shy about showing it.

[diva77]

7. K&R for exposure