By State Representative, Leon D. Young
Leon D. Young
The GOP-led Legislature sank to a new low-water mark last week when it gave hasty approval to its own redistricting maps. To suggest that Congressional and Legislative district boundaries have been blatantly manipulated for purely political advantage would indeed be an accurate and obvious assertion.
Rather than reapportioning districts based on shifts and changes in population, Republicans have gerrymandered boundaries that are designed to ensure their electoral supremacy for the next 10 years. Moreover, as former U.S. Representative Dave Obey so succinctly stated, “it is an assault on the rights of Wisconsin citizens to hold their government accountable through fair and competitive elections.”
The GOP redistricting plan is fraught with potential legal challenges. In Kenosha County, voters are shifted from an even to an odd numbered district, meaning they will wait six years for a regularly scheduled Senate election. Under this Redistricting plan, the Supreme Court would have to assign a panel of judges from three circuit courts to hear legal challenges, and those suing would be barred from substituting any of the judges. Appeals of the panel’s rulings would be heard by the Supreme Court without going through the appeals court.
And, if that weren’t enough, a proposed law change would force local units of government to redraw their wards to accommodate the GOP gerrymander. In the City of Milwaukee , which has already adopted its local ward plan, dozens of wards will need to be redrawn. This would be a major imposition in both time and expense.
Moreover, Blacks, Latinos and Native Americans are severely marginalized by the proposed GOP maps. Based on new population data, Milwaukee could have seven Assembly districts with African American majorities, but is provided only six. The Forest County Potawatomi have traditionally been in one Assembly district, but the tribe has been split into two under this plan. Latinos represent the fasting growing community in Wisconsin, increasing 74 percent since 2000, but is apportioned only one Assembly district when its population trend clearly demands greater electoral representation.
In typical Republican fashion, the redistricting legislation was pushed through the Legislature with blinding speed. The GOP has shown little or no regard for existing municipal ward plans, much less concern for meaningful constituent input from a broad spectrum of the electorate.
It has been theorized that the Republican rush to pass redistricting legislation before the Senate recall elections is predicated on the real possibility that they might lose the majority in that House. Hence, the redistricting plan is an insurance policy that the GOP will regain that majority in 2012 by gerrymandering districts that ensure Republican victories.
In recent weeks, Scott Walker has given indications that he is now willing to engage Democrats in dialogue, in hopes of promoting some semblance of bipartisanship. It’s most unfortunate that Mr. Walker didn’t adopt this approach when he first took office, as opposed to spearheading his radical and divisive conservative agenda.
If Mr. Walker is indeed earnest about seeking common ground with Democrats in the Legislature, his refusal to sign off on the current redistricting plan would be a noteworthy starting point.