fairmapsne.org https://optimizetest.com Wed, 13 May 2020 17:52:08 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.3.21 Expert Warns Of ‘Real Festival Of Partisan Gerrymandering’ In 2021 https://optimizetest.com/2020/04/19/expert-warns-of-real-festival-of-partisan-gerrymandering-in-2021/ Sun, 19 Apr 2020 17:47:00 +0000 http://optimizetest.stagemydomain.com/?p=1157 In the wake of the US Supreme Court’s Common Cause v. Rucho case which ruled that gerrymandering cases are a non-justiciable issue, citizen grassroots efforts have emerged to use other means to prevent partisan gerrymandering and other voter suppression efforts. These locally organized efforts have led to initiative petition victories to create non-partisan redistricting commissions […]

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]]> In the wake of the US Supreme Court’s Common Cause v. Rucho case which ruled that gerrymandering cases are a non-justiciable issue, citizen grassroots efforts have emerged to use other means to prevent partisan gerrymandering and other voter suppression efforts. These locally organized efforts have led to initiative petition victories to create non-partisan redistricting commissions in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Missouri, and Utah, expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act in Idaho, and restored voting rights for former felons in Florida and Alabama. Journalist David Daley, a senior fellow at Fair Vote, writes about these efforts in his latest book, “Unrigged: How Americans Are Battling Back to Save Democracy.”

https://www.npr.org/2020/04/19/836260800/expert-warns-of-real-festival-of-partisan-gerrymandering-in-2021

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]]> Nebraska can’t squander new momentum on redistricting fix https://optimizetest.com/2020/03/12/nebraska-cant-squander-new-momentum-on-redistricting-fix/ Thu, 12 Mar 2020 17:32:53 +0000 http://optimizetest.stagemydomain.com/?p=1138 “Following nearly a decade of redistricting reform efforts, Nebraska now has two opportunities to improve its process. These efforts to remove or minimize partisan influence from this task come at the absolute last minute, with a legislative solution advancing to the floor after the halfway point of the session and a ballot initiative organizers hope […]

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]]> “Following nearly a decade of redistricting reform efforts, Nebraska now has two opportunities to improve its process. These efforts to remove or minimize partisan influence from this task come at the absolute last minute, with a legislative solution advancing to the floor after the halfway point of the session and a ballot initiative organizers hope to put before voters in November

https://journalstar.com/opinion/editorial/editorial-nebraska-can-t-squander-new-momentum-on-redistricting-fix/article_53e1587f-45f5-5df4-92d6-8fb2d1d32ced.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share

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]]> Redistricting reform bill headed for full debate https://optimizetest.com/2020/03/07/redistricting-reform-bill-headed-for-full-debate/ Sat, 07 Mar 2020 22:33:03 +0000 http://optimizetest.stagemydomain.com/?p=1134 “Nebraska lawmakers will get the chance to reform how political boundaries are drawn in the state this year before embarking on the redistricting process in 2021. The Legislature’s Executive Board moved Omaha Sen. John McCollister’s redistricting reform bill (LB1207) to the floor for full debate on a 5-4 vote. No amendments were proposed…” https://journalstar.com/legislature/redistricting-reform-bill-headed-for-full-debate/article_295fcebe-1e26-5168-9854-52e6ac27011a.html

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]]> “Nebraska lawmakers will get the chance to reform how political boundaries are drawn in the state this year before embarking on the redistricting process in 2021. The Legislature’s Executive Board moved Omaha Sen. John McCollister’s redistricting reform bill (LB1207) to the floor for full debate on a 5-4 vote. No amendments were proposed…”

https://journalstar.com/legislature/redistricting-reform-bill-headed-for-full-debate/article_295fcebe-1e26-5168-9854-52e6ac27011a.html

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]]> Initiative planned for nonpartisan redistricting board https://optimizetest.com/2020/03/06/initiative-planned-for-nonpartisan-redistricting-board/ Fri, 06 Mar 2020 18:07:00 +0000 http://optimizetest.stagemydomain.com/?p=1132 “A coalition of organizations has proposed a ballot measure that would create an independent citizens commission to oversee redistricting of Nebraska’s congressional and state legislative districts. The group Nebraskans for Independent Redistricting said in a news release that it had filed paperwork Thursday to begin the process for a petition drive. The gathering of signatures […]

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]]> “A coalition of organizations has proposed a ballot measure that would create an independent citizens commission to oversee redistricting of Nebraska’s congressional and state legislative districts. The group Nebraskans for Independent Redistricting said in a news release that it had filed paperwork Thursday to begin the process for a petition drive. The gathering of signatures is expected to begin later this month…”

https://journalstar.com/eedition/page-a/page_c8d66ade-aaa4-5fad-bec8-264dad8cd0e1.html

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]]> League hosts senator’s talk on redistricting https://optimizetest.com/2020/02/18/league-hosts-senators-talk-on-redistricting/ Tue, 18 Feb 2020 16:30:00 +0000 http://optimizetest.stagemydomain.com/?p=1127 “Sen. John McCollister of Omaha is hoping to get new rules to help map legislative districts along with the new census in 2020 and beyond. McCollister spoke at the Seward County League of Women Voters’ Redistricting Forum Feb. 10 at the Seward Civic Center. He was joined by Sen. Mark Kolterman of Seward and others. […]

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]]> “Sen. John McCollister of Omaha is hoping to get new rules to help map legislative districts along with the new census in 2020 and beyond. McCollister spoke at the Seward County League of Women Voters’ Redistricting Forum Feb. 10 at the Seward Civic Center. He was joined by Sen. Mark Kolterman of Seward and others. McCollister’s bill, LB 1207, known as the Redistricting Act, would adopt new law governing legislative procedures for drawing boundary lines of districts represented by elected officials, based on the results of the decennial census…” https://www.sewardindependent.com/news/league-hosts-senator-s-talk-on-redistricting/article_d0e2e7a0-5299-11ea-8540-974ea354ab7c.html

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]]> With census nearing, senator makes final pitch for redistricting reform https://optimizetest.com/2020/02/13/with-census-nearing-senator-makes-final-pitch-for-redistricting-reform/ Thu, 13 Feb 2020 20:32:00 +0000 http://optimizetest.stagemydomain.com/?p=1108 “Sen. John McCollister initially envisioned Nebraska convening an independent commission charged with drawing the new political boundaries following the 2020 Census. On Wednesday, the Omaha senator conceded his previous plan to tackle the “most consequential process” given to the Legislature wasn’t feasible in today’s political environment. “It was a bridge too far,” McCollister told the […]

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]]> “Sen. John McCollister initially envisioned Nebraska convening an independent commission charged with drawing the new political boundaries following the 2020 Census. On Wednesday, the Omaha senator conceded his previous plan to tackle the “most consequential process” given to the Legislature wasn’t feasible in today’s political environment. “It was a bridge too far,” McCollister told the Legislature’s Executive Board on Wednesday. “In my candid assessment, it would not pass this body or be signed by the governor.”” https://journalstar.com/eedition/page-a/page_9a53c6fa-289f-5390-9899-4a7e8f0686f7.html

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]]> Nebraska lawmakers skeptical about redistricting reform https://optimizetest.com/2020/02/09/nebraska-lawmakers-skeptical-about-redistricting-reform/ Sun, 09 Feb 2020 14:52:00 +0000 http://optimizetest.stagemydomain.com/?p=1081 “Nebraska lawmakers will probably draw their own legislative and congressional districts next year despite numerous attempts to adopt a less partisan approach used by such states as neighboring Iowa. Senators have repeatedly rejected efforts to create an independent commission to spearhead the once-a-decade ritual, which starts anew in 2021. Even a watered-down proposal designed to minimize […]

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]]> “Nebraska lawmakers will probably draw their own legislative and congressional districts next year despite numerous attempts to adopt a less partisan approach used by such states as neighboring Iowa. Senators have repeatedly rejected efforts to create an independent commission to spearhead the once-a-decade ritual, which starts anew in 2021. Even a watered-down proposal designed to minimize the role of partisanship faces an uncertain future when it goes before a legislative committee on Wednesday…” https://www.trumbulltimes.com/news/article/Nebraska-lawmakers-skeptical-about-redistricting-15042344.php

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]]> Editorial: Legislature should explore options for a constructive redistricting process https://optimizetest.com/2020/01/22/editorial-legislator-should-explore-options-for-a-constructive-redistricting-process/ Wed, 22 Jan 2020 22:49:03 +0000 http://optimizetest.stagemydomain.com/?p=722 “Every 10 years, the Nebraska Legislature undertakes its redistricting duties. Past experience shows that even in the officially nonpartisan Legislature, redrawing the state’s political maps can spur fierce partisan struggles. State senators this session can help the process by debating and deciding on general principles to channel the process in a more constructive direction next […]

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]]> “Every 10 years, the Nebraska Legislature undertakes its redistricting duties. Past experience shows that even in the officially nonpartisan Legislature, redrawing the state’s political maps can spur fierce partisan struggles. State senators this session can help the process by debating and deciding on general principles to channel the process in a more constructive direction next year…”

https://www.omaha.com/opinion/editorial-legislature-should-explore-options-for-a-constructive-redistricting-process/article_f38dc4f5-792b-53d9-ad47-7d938af6fae6.html

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]]> Sen. McCollister to Introduce New Redistricting Bill https://optimizetest.com/2020/01/05/redistricting-in-the-news/ https://optimizetest.com/2020/01/05/redistricting-in-the-news/#comments Sun, 05 Jan 2020 17:01:35 +0000 http://optimizetest.stagemydomain.com/?p=1 “McCollister said he’ll introduce a new bill this year that keeps the Legislature’s nine-member Redistricting Committee in place but codifies how leadership of that committee is chosen into law and includes some additional measures of transparency sponsored by other senators last year). https://journalstar.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/nebraska-legislature-looks-to-tackle-familiar-issues-in-session/article_826f6955-5e28-5a6a-a44e-60f98181f314.html

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]]> “McCollister said he’ll introduce a new bill this year that keeps the Legislature’s nine-member Redistricting Committee in place but codifies how leadership of that committee is chosen into law and includes some additional measures of transparency sponsored by other senators last year). https://journalstar.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/nebraska-legislature-looks-to-tackle-familiar-issues-in-session/article_826f6955-5e28-5a6a-a44e-60f98181f314.html

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]]> https://optimizetest.com/2020/01/05/redistricting-in-the-news/feed/ 1 Gov. Ricketts Endorses Status Quo for Redistricting https://optimizetest.com/2020/01/04/january-4-2020/ Sat, 04 Jan 2020 16:27:54 +0000 http://optimizetest.stagemydomain.com/?p=263 Pete Ricketts:  “I don’t think the Legislature needs to make any changes to the current system. It’s the Legislature’s constitutional responsibility to redistrict after the census, and that’s what they should do. To be specific, they shouldn’t delegate that authority to anybody else. They should take the responsibility as state senators who are elected by […]

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]]> Pete Ricketts:  “I don’t think the Legislature needs to make any changes to the current system. It’s the Legislature’s constitutional responsibility to redistrict after the census, and that’s what they should do. To be specific, they shouldn’t delegate that authority to anybody else. They should take the responsibility as state senators who are elected by the people to fulfill their constitutional duties, this being one of their constitutional duties. They shouldn’t try to dodge that responsibility.” https://www.omaha.com/news/plus/gov-pete-ricketts-again-makes-property-tax-relief-his-top/article_539b9760-fa60-5c7d-885c-4a9170357c9b.html#1

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