Every North Carolina district just happens to look like a monster.
The Raleigh News and Observer broke the news and stated that "a panel of federal judges struck down North Carolina’s election districts for U.S. Congress on Tuesday as unconstitutional partisan gerrymanders and gave lawmakers until January 29 to bring them new maps to correct the problem." Here we go again with appeals, court documents, time and money.
"The judges were unanimous that North Carolina lawmakers under Republican leadership violated the U.S. Constitution’s equal-protection clause when they drew maps explicitly to favor their party."
Rep. David Lewis, a Harnett County Republican who has shepherded the state’s recent redistricting efforts, stated “I propose that we draw the maps to give a partisan advantage to ten Republicans and three Democrats because I do not believe it’s possible to draw a map with eleven Republicans and two Democrats.”
Just before Christmas, the NC General Assembly was again required to pay $1.4 million dollars to the attorneys that filed the original law suit for their successful challenge of unfair racial gerrymandering actions taken by our Republican controlled General Assembly.
This action brings the cost to around $7 million dollars not counting the wasted time and efforts for this detrimental act of governance.
Can our elected Representatives not find more productive and better use of their time than trying to "stack the deck" so they can remain in control of North Carolina State government?
However, our General Assembly has brought recognition to North Carolina. When ranked for electoral fairness by the Electoral Integrity Project which evaluated districts in all 50 states, North Carolina is absolutely last! NC scored 7 out of a possible 100 points! Somehow, I am not proud of North Carolina being the "poster child" for unfair political shenanigans.
"The judges were unanimous that North Carolina lawmakers under Republican leadership violated the U.S. Constitution’s equal-protection clause when they drew maps explicitly to favor their party."
Rep. David Lewis, a Harnett County Republican who has shepherded the state’s recent redistricting efforts, stated “I propose that we draw the maps to give a partisan advantage to ten Republicans and three Democrats because I do not believe it’s possible to draw a map with eleven Republicans and two Democrats.”
Just before Christmas, the NC General Assembly was again required to pay $1.4 million dollars to the attorneys that filed the original law suit for their successful challenge of unfair racial gerrymandering actions taken by our Republican controlled General Assembly.
This action brings the cost to around $7 million dollars not counting the wasted time and efforts for this detrimental act of governance.
Can our elected Representatives not find more productive and better use of their time than trying to "stack the deck" so they can remain in control of North Carolina State government?
However, our General Assembly has brought recognition to North Carolina. When ranked for electoral fairness by the Electoral Integrity Project which evaluated districts in all 50 states, North Carolina is absolutely last! NC scored 7 out of a possible 100 points! Somehow, I am not proud of North Carolina being the "poster child" for unfair political shenanigans.