Bolling Slams Senate Redistricting; Lobbies for Advisory Commission Lines
By Shaun Kenney | Thursday, April 7th, 2011 | Policy
Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling slammed the Senate lines proffered by State Senator Janet Howell, and advocated for the lines put forward by the Bipartisan Advisory Commission on Redistricting:
Earlier this year, Governor McDonnell appointed the Independent Bipartisan Advisory Commission on Redistricting to recommend prospective legislative districts to the General Assembly. The Commission’s charge was clear – to draft legislative districts which are compact, contiguous and have a common interest without regard to potential political advantage. The Commission was composed of visible Republicans and Democrats, as well as respected educational and business leaders. The Commission has now completed its work and produced a product worthy of support.
“I have long supported the establishment of a bipartisan redistricting process in Virginia, as have most members of the Senate. While the General Assembly has not seen fit to approve such legislation, this year they have an historic opportunity to move this objective forward by embracing the recommendations of the Commission and I encourage them to do so.
“These recommendations should be embraced by Republicans and Democrats alike. In properly drawn districts, both parties will have a fair chance to compete and the best interests of citizens will be placed above the self interest of politicians. That is what the redistricting process should be about.
Rumors are swirling that Governor McDonnell could very well veto the rorschach tests redistricting lines put forward by the Senate Democrats. Should he do this, and the Senate be unable to override a veto, the 2011 elections would be held with the same lines we have today… and wait for a newly-elected 2012 Virginia Senate to do the lines in a more democratic and fair process.
On the other hand, McDonnell could turn around and fight for the bipartisan commission’s recommendation. This would solve the problem in the Senate, but will it cause heartburn in the House where redistricting passed with 86 votes supporting? Can McDonnell merely put forward the Senate lines alone?
Lots of questions. No clear answers as of yet.
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Shaun Kenney is the Chairman of the Fluvanna County Board of Supervisors, former Communications Director for the Republican Party of Virginia, and an active blogger since 2002. Shaun lives in Thomas Jefferson's backyard with his wife, six children, and a modest attempt at a farm in Kents Store, Virginia.
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10 Responses to "Bolling Slams Senate Redistricting; Lobbies for Advisory Commission Lines"
How many different ways can you spell hypocrisy?
They should adopt Bipartisan Advisory Commission on Redistricting’s boundary lines for everything. All politically drawn lines are worthless, unless you represent that district.
If you’d wanted the non-partisan lines, you should have agreed to one of the non-partisan redistricting bills that have been offered over the last four years. I can understand why Republicans might be kicking themselves for not doing that. The commission plan would be great for them in the Senate, giving them a majority of about 22-18 or 23-17. But since you didn’t agree to them, it IS sort of hypocritical to expect the Democrats to unilaterally give up the gerrymander (and the majority). This would be like the Dems (and there were some) who said that Bob Goodlatte should have stuck to his “three terms and out” promise, even though term limits didn’t pass.
Under the latest Senate plans, Prince William County is split into SIX different districts!
Go with the Commission’s recommendations across the board. It may not be the most friendly thing for politicians, but it truly makes the most sense.
thanks for the info shaun. i did not know that if Gov McD vetoed the Senate Dem plan & the veto stood, that we would have 2010 Senate districts. I thought the matter would go to court.
go Gov McD!!! veto! veto!
There’s only one bill, not two separate ones. If he vetos it to screw with Dems in the Senate, then he does the same to the House redistricting plan. I seriously doubt he will, this is just mental masturbation on the part of Bolling, the idiot that he is.
But yeah, this is extremely hypocritical of him. He apparently has no problem with the House redistricting bill, which is gerrymandered just as as the Senate side.
Republican translation on redistricting: If Republicans are in charge, it’s fine. If Democrats, it’s clearly wrong, and a bi-partisan commission needs to do it.
I think if the bi-partisan plans were used, the Senate would end up 22-18 Republican and the House probably 56-44 Republican.
NJSM,
Who’s the idiot here? McDonnell’s choices are more than just sign and veto. He can recommend changes, either to one map or both.
It should also be noted that the House map is the only one with backing from the minority caucus; over 20 Democratic Delegates voted for it. By contrast, there are only six Republicans in the entire Commonwealth who are happy with the Senate map. One of them is myself, and I know the other five personally (because we were kept in Ryan McDougle’s district and out of Edd Houck’s).
My guess is McD will ask for some Southside changes (i.e., put the 8th back in Va Beach and shift seats down there accordingly).
DJ- That doesn’t help him much. Only takes a simple majority in either house to reject his amendments. Pretty sure the Dems have 22 votes in the Senate to do that. Then we’re back to veto it or sign it.
Steve, exactly right. It may sound nice to hold ground and pass the buck to redistricting next year. With the current map, Republicans may be able to retake the Senate, though probably not. Then the issue for Republicans are two-fold: Dems in the Senate still have control, and in a Presidential election year, Dem turnout will be much higher than in the off-off year that 2011 is. No Republican Delegate or state Senator wants to run against that. Plus the fact that no one, Republican or Democrat, in the House of Delegates nor Senate wants to run a campaign two years in a row – three for the HoD.
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