• Disclosure
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
  • CCPA
  • Medical Disclaimer
Saturday, January 28, 2023
Wisconsin Digital News
  • Home
  • US
  • Business
  • Covid 19
  • Milwaukee
  • Madison
  • Green Bay
  • Kenosha
  • Racine
  • Appleton
  • Press Releases
  • Videos
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • US
  • Business
  • Covid 19
  • Milwaukee
  • Madison
  • Green Bay
  • Kenosha
  • Racine
  • Appleton
  • Press Releases
  • Videos
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home US

Lawmakers Must Reject Governor’s Threats On Redistricting | Editorial

by NewsReporter
March 4, 2022
in US
Reading Time: 4 mins read
lawmakers-must-reject-governor’s-threats-on-redistricting-|-editorial
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Thank you for supporting our journalism. This article is available exclusively for our subscribers, who help fund our work at the Sun Sentinel.

Bombs and tanks aren’t necessary to destroy democracy. Laws and legal briefs in the wrong hands can do it bloodlessly.

The Florida Legislature has surrendered to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ arrogant demand to dismantle one of four congressional districts that has elected Black Democrats. The newly-contorted map the House approved Friday would isolate more than 100,000 Black residents of Tallahassee’s Leon County and adjacent, majority-Black Gadsden in a district guaranteed to elect a white Republican. Statewide, the DeSantis map reduces protected Black seats from four to two.

“We’re fully aware that the governor has the veto pen,” rationalized Rep. Tom Leek, R-Ormond Beach, the redistricting committee chairman.

DeSantis still isn’t satisfied. He threatened Friday to veto even what the House was preparing to give him. He did not say why, but it’s obvious that he wants even fewer Florida Democrats in Washington, where there are now 11, compared to 16 Republicans. Florida will gain a 28th seat in Congress.

“I will veto the congressional reapportionment plan currently being debated by the House. DOA,” DeSantis tweeted Friday.

That would surely necessitate a special session. So be it. With one week left in the regular session, his 11th-hour stink bomb ought to offend all legislators in both parties.

DeSantis’s predecessors refrained from partisan meddling in redistricting. He has played the Legislature like an accordion all through the session, but this much ought to have been too much even for the Republicans. The Senate should have rejected the House plan and insisted on the better one it passed.

The House map, which shrinks Rep. Al Lawson’s widespread District 5 in North Florida to an enclave at Jacksonville, comes with an unprecedented wrinkle. Should a court rule that it violates the Florida Constitution — which it does — the bill provides for essentially restoring District 5 all the way to Leon and Gadsden. It also allows objectors only 30 days to file suit in it, rather than the standard four years, which is likely unconstitutional also.

In Washington, the Republican Party is asking the Supreme Court to rule in effect that state courts and even state constitutions are powerless to overturn a legislature’s congressional map. Although the specific case concerns North Carolina, the precedent would apply nationwide.

The case could nullify one of Florida’s two Fair Districts initiatives, approved by some 62% of voters in 2010, that outlawed partisan gerrymandering and greatly improved how the Legislature redraws districts every 10 years and ensured judicial oversight. The Legislature was sufficiently mindful of them this year that it redrew all 160 legislative districts to which the usual objectors did not object, and the Florida Supreme Court upheld those maps Thursday.

Florida’s high court would be powerless to review the present congressional redistricting legislation if Republicans win the North Carolina case.

The right to vote means nothing if the vote won’t matter. In 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in another North Carolina case that although its General Assembly had boastfully created a pro-Republican gerrymander, deliberately diluting Democratic votes, there was nothing the federal courts could or should do about such a “political question.”

That was more damaging to democracy than even the 2010 Citizens United decision that created corporate personhood and eviscerated campaign finance reform.

However, Chief Justice John Roberts’ majority opinion left state courts explicitly free to apply their own constitutions. He took particular note of Florida’s and added, “There is no ‘Fair Districts Amendment’ to the Federal Constitution. (There needs to be one, of course.)

The new North Carolina case would erase that concession.

Republicans are asking for an injunction to block a map created by a state court after the North Carolina Supreme Court overturned the General Assembly’s first attempt.

The U.S. Constitution also guarantees equal protection of the laws, which the U.S. Supreme Court finally invoked in 1962 to require all voting districts to be substantially equal in population. That decision made it possible to reform Florida’s notoriously rural-ruled Legislature that for decades denied equal representation to South Florida and other urban areas.

In Tallahassee, the Legislature should reject DeSantis’ partisan meddling. In Washington, the Supreme Court should send Republicans home empty-handed.

The Sun Sentinel Editorial Board consists of Editorial Page Editor Steve Bousquet, Deputy Editorial Page Editor Dan Sweeney, and Editor-in-Chief Julie Anderson. Editorials are the opinion of the Board and written by one of its members or a designee. To contact us, email at [email protected].

Read More Here

Related Posts

brian-benjamin’s-arrest-and-new-york’s-failure

Brian Benjamin’s Arrest And New York’s Failure

by NewsReporter
April 13, 2022
0

Another ethics bombshell just hit New York: the arrest of Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin. The charges against Benjamin stem from an alleged misuse of his public office to financially benefit a big campaign contributor. Of course, Benjamin deserves to have his side heard, but the indictment is fresh evidence that...

explainer:-what-do-new-alabama-laws-say-on-transgender-kids?

EXPLAINER: What Do New Alabama Laws Say On Transgender Kids?

by NewsReporter
April 12, 2022
0

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama has become the first state to criminalize the use of puberty blockers and hormones to treat transgender people under age 19. In line with some other Republican-led states, legislators here also passed a law requiring students to use bathrooms corresponding to their sex at birth and...

biden-to-announce-new-gun-regulation-–-follow-live

Biden To Announce New Gun Regulation – Follow Live

by NewsReporter
April 11, 2022
0

(Getty Images)President Joe Biden is expected to announce new gun regulations on Monday to rein in so-called “ghost guns” — privately made firearms without serial numbers that have been used in several high-profile violent crimes.Mr Biden is expected to nominate Steve Dettlebach, an Obama-era US attorney, to run the Bureau...

nominations-for-pakistan-pm-due;-supporters-of-ousted-khan-expected-to-protest

Nominations For Pakistan PM Due; Supporters Of Ousted Khan Expected To Protest

by NewsReporter
April 10, 2022
0

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comISLAMABAD, April 10 (Reuters) - Candidates for Pakistan's next prime minister are due to file nomination papers on Sunday after incumbent Imran Khan lost a no-confidence vote in parliament, bringing an end to the former cricket star's nearly four years in power.Khan had...

Wisconsin Digital News

© 2021 Wisconsin Digital News

Navigate Site

  • Disclosure
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
  • CCPA
  • Medical Disclaimer

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • DMCA Policy
  • Medical Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure
  • CCPA
  • Terms of Use

© 2021 Wisconsin Digital News

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT