Idaho's citizens' redistricting commission is on hiatus this week — but in politics, there are no vacations.
Today, it was the Republicans' turn to lobby charges at their three Democratic counterparts, accusing them of derailing the remapping by injecting "raw partisanship" into the process.
The GOP's claim goes as follows: The Democrats reneged on supporting a plan to redraw the state's two congressional districts, and have since blocked efforts to redraw the state's 35 legislative districts.
"It was clear that this was being done as part of a hardball, union-style negotiating tactic, in which approval of the consensus congressional map would be withheld in order to wring concessions out of the other side on a legislative map," GOP remappers Lorna Finman, Evan Frasure and Lou Esposito wrote in a guest opinion today. "That was on July 19, and it marked the end of the consensus-driven, bipartisan efforts of the Redistricting Commission. Since then, positions have hardened."
Here is the full Republican guest opinion (and here is what the Democratic commissioners said earlier this month:
Every state is required to redraw its congressional and legislative political districts after the decennial census. In many states, this is done through a partisan process in which the party in power draws boundaries to its own benefit, at the expense of the minority party, and often the people, as well. In Idaho, the state Constitution gives this important task of defining the state’s political boundaries for the next 10 years to a bipartisan citizens' commission. Each party controls three appointments to the commission.
By law, this commission must complete its work no later than 90 days after its formation. After spending June and part of July holding hearings and receiving an unprecedented amount of input from citizens all over Idaho, the commission got down to business. The commission appeared to be working well, across partisan lines, and was starting with the simpler task of redrawing the one line dividing Idaho’s First and Second congressional districts, we rapidly reached what appeared to be a consensus that Ada County would be the one county divided, with the dividing line continuing its westward drift, this time from Cole Road to Cloverdale Road. Those living west of the line or south of the interstate would be in the 1st district. Everyone else in Ada County would be in the 2nd district.
This is consistent with the approach that Idaho has taken with congressional redistricting since 1971, and has the advantage of predictability for Idaho’s voters. All of the whole counties currently in District 1 remain in District 1. The same is true for those whole counties in District 2. Ada County remains divided between east and west, just as has been the case for 40 years. Those living just west of Cole Road and north of the interstate are shifted from District 1 to District 2, just as those voters have been expecting for the last 10 years.
Sadly, this amicable, orderly process was derailed by an injection of raw partisanship. Essentially, while on the cusp of agreeing to a congressional map and moving on to the more difficult task of drawing 35 legislative districts, the three Democratic commissioners suddenly reversed course, and refused to vote on a map to which both sides had indicated they were agreeable. It was clear that this was being done as part of a hardball, union-style negotiating tactic, in which approval of the consensus congressional map would be withheld in order to wring concessions out of the other side on a legislative map. The Democratic commissioners then proceeded to vote down plan after plan, including the one with which they had voiced their approval.
That was on July 19, and it marked the end of the consensus-driven, bipartisan efforts of the Redistricting Commission. Since then, positions have hardened. Legislative maps have been drawn, almost all of them proposals from the Republican side, while we have waited over a month for the Democratic commissioners to agree to a vote on a congressional map.
The commission will not reconvene until Tuesday, Aug. 30, a mere seven days before its work must be completed. Until then, we three Republican commissioners will continue in our efforts to produce maps, in the hopes that one may be found that the Democratic commissioners will find agreeable, or at least a suitable starting point for discussions. We also hope that the Democratic commissioners will find their way back to the bipartisan, consensus-driven approach that marked the first half of our tenure, and soon. Because the clock is ticking.
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You are...No, you are....I know you are, but what am I?
Honestly, do these people believe that ANYONE thinks either side is not being partisan? Do they realize that the majority of Idahoans are not following what they do, nor do they care who each side blames for not coming up with a plan?
Just do your jobs and stop whining.
are you serious, republicans
Mr Kettle, please say hi to Mr. Pot
Oh please
In the state that's what - 90+ percent GOP, the GOP is complaining about partisanship? Give me a break.
Those Poor Republicans
I had no idea it was all the dem's fault. Those bullies had better stop trying to force their opinions on the picked-on GOP or else!
Funny how hard it is to feel sorry for the school yard bully when they complain of how unfair life is.
Get back to work slackers, all of you!
Union-Style . . . ?
Just another blatant, opportunistic slam to the teachers union. Grow up, Esposito. If anyone has been playing hardball, it's you. Leave the unions out of it.
"...a hardball, union-style negotiating tactic."
Yes, it's the Democrats being partisan. These guys are hysterical.
Oh Those Democrats
They would bellyache if they were hanged with a new rope. It isn't as if they actually had a constituency that mattered. How many are there anyway, eight or ten maybe? If they ever climbed back in towards the middle of the tree they might actually attract a few voters. Fat chance of that though. The unions control them, and the abortionists, and the America haters etc etc etc. There is a reason they are called the party of death. They are all hollow and full of decay inside.
Hit reset
Sad that you believe that. Wonderful lil box you put Dems in. geez No wonder Repubs get elected with constituents like this. Good luck with your views it works well with the fringe.
What just happen in Congress with the debt ceiling
Oh no, the Democrats may be following the Republican playbook. Boohoo.
As repubs want tax cuts for
As repubs want tax cuts for the top and lower taxes for corps they don't want the payroll tax holiday for the middle class. Repubs fight against regs that would stop predatory lending. (consumer protection bill) Repubs fighting against regs for Wall St. Yes the ones that stole your equity and got bonuses for it. Voting against yourself. Here's your freedom flag. geez
scared repubs
Repubs all across the country are electing to either not have town hall mtgs or charge for them. Some are pre-inviting a select crowd. They are not allowing video taping because of what has happened lately. Idaho is a very RED state. This probably won't happen in Idaho. Look around at other states that are more diverse culturally and politically. Be on the right side of history .Tea pots have psssed off the middle class. Middle class is what makes this country great. Voting with the elite and Idaho has none. geez
Just use Obama's line -
We won. We don’t mind the Democrats joining us. They can come for the ride, but they gotta sit in back.
Sit in the back?
That comment has racist undertones. Didja really mean that?
Not my quote.
Obama said it. Ask him.
Here is the rest of the story Wakeup2
Do you believe you can take a couple of words out of a public meeting and pass it off as the statement made?
The quote you are mangling is from a discussion Obama had with voters in Rhode Island regarding the Debt. Please read the comment he made regarding his belief that it was that Republicans passed spending votes and allowed cuts that put us in the hole. They were the ones that drove us into the ditch, we can't let them have the keys back etc.
And then he closed that discussion with: (full quote)
" Now that progress has been made,we can’t have special interests sitting shotgun. We gotta have middle class families up in front. We don’t mind the Republicans joining us. They can come for the ride, but they gotta sit in back."
Nice work!
So many times quotes are taken out of context (by all sides) and I appreciate you getting the whole picture. Thanks.
All Hail the Conservative Gerrymander
All Hail the Gerrymander, Idaho's legislative districts are out of whack and the urban voice is being marginalized by rural controlled legislature.
Blatant Gerrymandering Techniques of the GOP.
Packing: Placing as many voters of one type in a single district to minimize the number of elections they can influence.
Cracking: Spreading voters of one type over many districts where they will comprise minorities that are unable to influence elections.
Hijacking: Separating an elected official from his constituents and placing him or her in a district where he or she has no name recognition.
Kidnapping: Drawing two elected officials into the same district so they must run against each other.
?
HAHAHAHAHA! That's hilarious!
Those darned Dems!!