YES on Propositon 11 - End Cronyism in California

Written by: Kevin Lynn on Nov 4, 2008 1:44 AM EST

Linked to groups: California for Democracy, DFA Pasadena, Democracy For Downtown

Linked to campaigns: Obama for America

The below report from the Center for Government Studies comes as
validation for those of us within the California Democratic Party who
have been promoting Proposition 11 as way to end the ridiculous
gerrymandering that has bestowed upon our state the LEAST COMPETETIVE
congressional and state legislative electoral districts in the
nation. I entreat you to read the below and share it with other
California voters. YES ON PROPOSITION 11!!

Best regards,

Kevin Lynn
Delegate and Member Executive Board,
California Democratic Party


For Immediate Release - October 24, 2008
For further information contact: Bob Stern (310.470.6590 x117)
or Tracy Westen (310.470.6590 x114)

The Center for Governmental Studies (CGS) today released
Redistricting Reform in California: Proposition 11 on the November
2008 California Ballot, which makes five key findings:

The independent commission is likely to be more ethnically diverse
than the legislature's redistricting committees. The independent
commission will be more balanced between Republicans, Democrats and
members of neither major party. The independent commission will be
more open to public input than legislative committees.
The districts created by the independent commission will almost
certainly be more competitive than districts created by the
legislature. The independent commission will almost certainly produce
maps through a process that has improved transparency and public
access.

On November 4, 2008, Californians may have their last opportunity to
change the redistricting process before maps are redrawn in 2011—when
new districts will be locked into place for another decade.
California's current legislative redistricting law, under which
legislative committees draw the lines for state electoral districts,
usually benefits incumbents and the political party in power. This
leads to decreased competition; since the last redistricting in 2001,
only one seat changed parties due to competition in 459 legislative
and congressional races.

Proposition 11, by contrast, could increase fairness and public
involvement in the redistricting process, and it could decrease
political manipulation of district boundaries by requiring an
independent commission to follow specific criteria in drawing State
Assembly, State Senate and Board of Equalization districts.

Redistricting Reform in California: Proposition 11 on the November
2008 California Ballot and other CGS reports are available on the CGS
website, www.cgs.org. The James Irvine Foundation and Carnegie
Corporation provided generous funding for this report, but they are
not responsible for the statements or views it expresses.
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CGS Mission

The Center for Governmental Studies (CGS) creates innovative
political and media solutions to help individuals participate more
effectively in their communities and governments. CGS uses research,
advocacy, information technology and education to improve the
fairness of governmental policies and processes, empower the
underserved to participate more effectively in their communities,
improve communication between voters and candidates for office, and
help implement effective public policy reforms.

To learn more about CGS, visit our website at http://www.cgs.org.

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Location: CA