E-mails show Senate and GOP plotted in secret to redraw districts

[Tony_FLADEM]

TALLAHASSEE — Florida legislative leaders appear to have authorized staff members to use private email accounts and had "brainstorming meetings" with Republican Party consultants to attempt to draw favorable political districts, despite a constitutional ban on such coordination.

The allegations arise from a lawsuit challenging the Senate and congressional redistricting that include emails showing how top aides to House Speaker Will Weatherford, Senate President Don Gaetz and several Gaetz consultants were in frequent contact with operatives who drafted and analyzed maps.

Redistricting takes place every decade to redraw legislative and congressional district boundaries to ensure equal representation.

The emails show that a month after voters in 2010 approved an amendment banning coordination between the party and lawmakers, GOP consultant and Gaetz adviser Rich Heffley called a redistricting "brainstorming" meeting at the chairman's conference room at party headquarters in Tallahassee.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/elections/article1273743.ece

[Nika]

1. Democrats need to address this problem, Project Red State put a Rethug majority together ...

... in the House, and it's time to remove this artificial majority and to get a realistic number of Democrats in office that would allow the government to function in a much more reasonable fashion.

[mucifer]

2. In Illinois the district are draw to benefit democrats.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-12-15/news/chi-federal-court-upholds-democrats-map-of-illinois-congressional-districts-20111215_1_map-making-process-new-map-illinois-congressional-districts

[Spitfire of ATJ]

3. So much for that "Vast Right Wing Conspiracy" line being laughed at.

[chuckstevens]

4. Abolish the Electoral College

It won't solve the Congressional districts, but we need an amendment to get rid of the archaic Electoral College.

[Coyotl]

5. This should help overthrow Florida's redistricting.

[ProudProgressiveNow]

6. K&R nt

[supercats]

7. That Old Motto....Seems To Be Forever True If You're A Republican

"If you're NOT cheating, you're NOT trying!!!" Is there nothing a republican won't stoop so low to do??? I mean you know all they care about is 'THE ENDS JUSTIFY THE MEANS'....(just don't get caught). They are continually despicable. They don't care who they hurt or what form of deception is involved as long as it works....

[socialindependocrat]

8. to ensure equal representation...

It's easy enough to show that divisions are drawn to favor one party or the other. Hold the people responsible and kick them out of office.

If they can't do it right then, as chuck said - get rid of the problem - get rid of the electoral college.

There should be rules that are to be followed when drawing lines for districts. If the rules aren't followed then get rid of the people who can't follow the rules.

[HelenWheels]

9. Same thing happened in WI

We had more Democratic votes across the state but more Repukes were elected. Doesn't compute to the fair-minded.