New redistricting map could make California less golden on the Hill

[alp227]

When it comes to clout on Capitol Hill, California has long reigned supreme, with its lawmakers routinely being placed in the upper ranks of key congressional committees.

That dominance now faces a challenge, however, as the Golden State’s voters decided in November to dilute California’s power in the Capitol — whether they meant to or not.

In addition to having the nation’s largest economy and population, California boasts some of the most exquisitely gerrymandered maps in the land. At both the federal and the state levels, the same lawmakers have been reelected cycle after cycle in districts drawn with the goal of protecting incumbents, regardless of party.

In 2010, voters got fed up and passed a ballot initiative — Proposition 20 — to take control of congressional redistricting away from the state legislature and hand it to an unelected commission. That body has now presented its first draft of a congressional map that sent shock waves through the state, drawing several members out of their current districts and into potential fights with other lawmakers.

(...)

At least a handful of those panel chiefs face trouble under the redrawn lines:

-  Rep. David Dreier (R), who is term-limited out of his post as Rules Committee chairman anyway, saw his San Gabriel Valley seat changed to become much more Democratic.

- Rep. Howard L. Berman, the top Democrat on the Foreign Affairs Committee, was drawn into a San Fernando Valley district that is more amenable to another Democrat, Rep. Brad Sherman.

- Rep. Loretta Sanchez, the ranking Democrat on the ethics panel, saw more Republicans added to her Orange County district.

- Rep. Dan Lungren (R), the chairman of the House Administration Committee, had his Sacramento-area district drawn to be about even between the two parties.

full: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/new-redistricting-map-could-make-california-less-golden-on-the-hill/2011/06/20/AGI5gVdH_story.html

[jaysunb]

1. Power on Capitol Hill is nice, but

the power of the people of this State is best. Both party's will have to put up candidates that give power to the people they represent.

[jul61252]

3. delete

[pinto]

2. Though I'm leery of propositions in general, I voted for this one.

Seemed a good move to put redistricting to a (somewhat) less political body. Gerrymandered districts are anathema to true representation, imo. I've seen the first draft suggestions, they look fairly reasonable to me.

How it plays out... :shrug: