Posts Tagged ‘North Country Public Radio’
13
MAR
Reform groups wrangle over redistricting constitutional amendment (North Country Public Radio)
Government reform groups are badly fractured over a proposed constitutional amendment poised for passage in the legislature to change the state’s redistricting process. Some say it’s the best deal that can be obtained and will represent some reform. Others say it’s an unacceptable step backwards. In Albany, Karen DeWitt reports.
Things got a little heated yesterday at a meeting of a legislative task force on redrawing new district lines–The Senate Democrat’s representative complained he’d been left in the dark about the creation of 63rd Senate district by Republicans.
Senator Martin Dilan condemned parts of the process so far as a “farce” and “waste of money.”
The New York State legislature had its first official day back yesterday. On its first official day of business the legislature acted in a show of bi- partisanship, to divest the state of investments in Iran. But Democrats and Republicans in the Senate continue to argue over redistricting.
One of the biggest issues facing state lawmakers in 2012 is the redrawing of electoral district lines.
New lines are drawn after every U.S. Census and typically reflect the political power structure of the state legislature, bolstering sitting majorities. As Karen DeWitt reports, the topic has been the elephant in the room during much of this year. Gov Andrew Cuomo has repeated threats to veto any lines that are gerrymandered and drawn in a partisan manner.
New lines are drawn after every U.S. Census and typically reflect the political power structure of the state legislature, bolstering sitting majorities. As Karen DeWitt reports, the topic has been the elephant in the room during much of this year. Gov Andrew Cuomo has repeated threats to veto any lines that are gerrymandered and drawn in a partisan manner.
An influential government reform group has drawn up new maps for political boundaries in New York state that would have dramatic impacts here in the North Country.
Common Cause of New York says its redistricting plan would be fairer and more logical than the maps drawn up in the past by politicians. Brian Mann reports.
Deliberations over drawing new legislative and congressional districts are continuing in Albany and one of the k ey sticking points is the way prison inmates are counted.
Democrats pushed through a measure two years ago that calls for the inmates to be counted in the districts that they’re sent from.
There is a huge legal and political fight underway over how and where to count prison inmates when it comes time to draw New York State’s political boundaries next year.
When Democrats briefly controlled the state Senate, they pushed through a bill requiring that roughly 60,000 prisoners be counted in their home districts.
The state task force that will draw up new electoral maps in New York State was in Syracuse yesterday to begin a string of public hearings.
New York’s losing two congressional seats because of population losses reported in the last Census.
As WRVO’s Ellen Abbott reports, the task force, known as “Latfor”, heard all about why neither of those seats should come from the districts that span central and northern New York.
To read/listen to entire article click here: http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/18046/20110720/redistricting-task-force-hears-regional-concerns
