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Sunday, January 22, 2006
Ind. Gov't. - Matt Tully on redistricting, and legislators' benefits
Indianapolis Star columnist Matthew Tully's column today is headlined: "The me-me-mes could kill districting bill." Some quotes:
The bill [House Speaker Brian] Bosma is pushing would create a bipartisan panel to draw fair boundaries for Statehouse districts. It would end a system in which the legislature draws its own maps -- stretching districts across numerous counties, twisting and turning them to artificially dictate the partisan makeup of each district.Indeed they do. The ILB has unearthed a weath of information this weekend about these health and pension programs, and will be putting together a very long entry for tonight or early tomorrow.Bosma has a lot to gain, too. Fair districts would boost the GOP's standing in the House, because they would likely result in the election of more Republicans. Democrats for years have kept themselves in power, or close to it, with carefully crafted districts.
So they're fighting the bill, using bad arguments to buck good policy. While the bill came out of committee on a partisan vote, Senate Republicans, who have benefited from drawing their own districts, also have shown little interest.
In the end, good policy or not, the bill might die from a case of me-me-mes.
Rep. Mae Dickenson, D-Indianapolis, is worried about what a fair-minded commission might do to her district. Rep. Craig Fry, D-Mishawaka, fears good maps would keep Republicans in control of the House.
On it went. Me, me, me.
The self-interest made a perfect case for changing the system. Lawmakers shouldn't be able to use the government process to determine their own fortunes.
That'd be like letting them set their own pay, or vote on their own taxpayer-funded health and pension programs.
Oh, I forgot. They get to do that, too.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on January 22, 2006 06:37 AM
Posted to Indiana Government