Posts Tagged ‘NBC New York’
A judge’s proposal to redraw congressional districts in New York eliminates a Democratic seat in the Hudson Valley and merges the districts of powerful congressmen on Long Island.
The proposal would erase the Hudson Valley district held by Democratic Rep. Maurice Hinchey, who is retiring.
Two New York officials familiar with a sealed redistricting plan say a Democratic Hudson Valley seat would be lost and either a Republican or Democratic seat would be lost in Queens.
The majority Senate Republicans and Assembly Democrats both propose eliminating the Hudson Valley seat held by Rep. Maurice Hinchey who is retiring.
This is a pivotal week in New York for the redistricting process that will play a critical role in how the state is governed and how its politics operate for the next decade.
And it appears the process will get longer and Senate and Assembly majorities won’t meet their own timetable of voting on new state legislative and congressional district lines on March 1. A vote by March 1 would require redistricting bills to be submitted by midnight Monday.
Read More: http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/ny-state-redistricting-delay–140485823.html
hey are supposed to act as guardians of democracy.
But instead, the Republican and Democratic leaders in Albany seem to have an unspoken deal to betray democracy. Disregarding the pleas of reform groups to draw new lines for state Senate, Assembly and U.S. congressional districts based on principles of fairness and honesty, the politicians in control are once again working to protect incumbents.
If they get their way, most state lawmakers and members of Congress will retain their seats, with help they get from party bosses.
Read More: http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/A-Test-of-Democracy-138421159.html
Gov. Andrew Cuomo is the key to avoiding a political train wreck in Albany — if no strong effort is made to change the law so that legislators don’t perpetuate themselves in office year after year without possibility of change.
By the end of January, the Legislature needs to decide whether to appoint an independent commission to redraw the lines of Senate and Assembly districts to give democracy a chance.
Read More: http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Albany-redistricting-Cuomo-incumbent-reelection.html
For career politicians it’s one of the oldest tricks in the book.
Every 10 years, after the census figures come out, politicians re-draw the lines in their districts so that they can be re-elected again and again.
Politicians might say it ensures stability. Or, putting it more accurately, it ensures that it’s almost impossible for a newcomer to take their place.
Read More: http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Legislative-Reform—-Not-a-Slam-Dunk-132730718.html
