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A new group announced this week an effort to put an initiative on the ballot that would create an independent commission to draw up new voting districts following next year's census. Good idea or not? I think it would be a good idea myself.
The last time those boundaries were redrawn by the state legislature was a blatantly political attempt to squash the democratic party even further. And despite their attempts to justify it, even some republicans were embarrased by what their colleagues had done. I was also somewhat offended by a recent op-ed piece by House Speaker Dave Clark suggesting that only the legislature has the knowledge and expertise to do the redistricting. All due respect to the Speaker, but that's bull. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of people in this state who have as much knowledge as legislators and who don't have as much of a political axe to grind.
Would an independent commission remove politics completely? No. But it could create much more balanced and fair boundaries, especially with a new congressional district on the way.