In the News in Midwest
You Call These Elections?
http://blog.wisdc.org/2012/09/you-call-these-elections.html posted by Mike McCabe @ 11:20 AM Even before the smoking guns were found, it was obvious that Wisconsin Republicans took full advantage of the redistricting process last year and drew new district maps designed to tilt the electoral scales in their favor. The biggest losers, however, are not the Democrats. That distinction belongs to the [...]
[Michigan news] Every vote counts, but some count more than others
It’s true that every vote counts – but if you live in Michigan, your vote may have counted a lot more in this week’s primary election than it will in the November general election.
GOP lawyer warned [WI] legislators about redistricting plan
Details come in emails released to Senate Democrats By Patrick Marley of the Journal Sentinel Madison – Republicans might have prevailed in a lawsuit over election maps if their redistricting team had listened to one of its lawyers, new records show. Attorney Jim Troupis argued in July 2011 for maps that took into account citizenship [...]
No surprise on need for redistricting reform
Both sides of the aisle are disingenuous about Wisconsin’s rigged redistricting process. Wisconsin needs political reforms that will bring an independent legislative redistricting process and good government back to our state.
Documents cast new light on [WI] redistricting process, reveal partisan motivations
Wisconsin’s Republican legislative leaders have repeatedly denied their new legislative district maps were focused on obtaining political advantage, but new documents made public this week show otherwise.
New Senate leader seeks redistricting files
With Democrat Mark Miller now in charge of the Wisconsin state Senate, the law firm hired by Republicans in the recent round of redistricting, finally decided to comply with his request and hand over the requested documents. Senator Miller has promised to make the files public.
Van Hollen drops appeal in [WI] redistricting case
Wisconsin Attorney General will drop its appeal of a federal court redistricting decision and pay $185,500 to an immigrant rights group who sued the state over the maps. Voces de la Frontera prevailed in March before a panel of three federal judges in its arguments that newly drawn boundaries for Assembly Districts 8 and 9 on Milwaukee’s south side violated the federal Voting Rights Act. The payment will bring taxpayer costs for the maps to over $1.5 million, and that number could yet climb.
Van Hollen says cost of appealing redistricting case will be minimal
A federal court panel found two of Wisconsin’s 99 Assembly districts violated the federal Voting Rights Act in March, and approved a revised version of those maps earlier this month. Wisconsin Attorney General appealed the decision last week to the U.S. Supreme Court. Plaintiffs attorney calls it “a high-priced folly.”
[Oakland County news] League of Women Voters hosting Oakland County forum on redistricting reform
The League of Women Voters Oakland Area will be hosting a public forum on Saturday, April 21 to discuss the results of Michigan’s 2011 redistricting and how to improve the process moving forward.
Federal judges redraw two south side legislative districts
On Wednesday a panel of three federal judges adopted boundaries proposed by Voces de la Frontera and a group of Democrats for the two Assembly districts in Milwaukee that the panel previously declared unconstitutional. Assembly District 8 is now an effective majority-minority district. The state DOJ is leaning toward an appeal.
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