Missouri House overrides Nixon's redistricting veto

[The Northerner]

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri House moved quickly on Wednesday and voted to override Gov. Jay Nixon's weekend veto of a proposed congressional redistricting map.

The House voted to override the veto 109-44, giving GOP leaders the minimum two-thirds vote that is required. It now will be up to the Senate to decide whether to allow the congressional map to take effect despite Nixon's objections. The Senate president pro tem has said that he plans to pursue an override, and more than two-thirds of senators had voted to approve the map when it initially passed.

Republican legislative leaders have defended their redistricting proposal, calling it a fair proposal that kept together parts of the state with common interests. Nixon, a Democrat, said in his veto on Saturday that the proposal did not "adequately protect the interests of all Missourians."

Missouri's redistricting legislation would merge two Democratic congressmen into the same St. Louis district to help consolidate Missouri's nine current congressional districts into eight. Missouri lost a U.S. House seat after the 2010 census because the state's 7 percent population growth failed to keep pace with the rest of the nation. The new map also must account for population shifts within the state, including an exodus from St. Louis to its outer suburbs.

Read more: http://www.westport-news.com/news/article/Mo-House-overrides-Nixon-s-redistricting-veto-1365164.php


Considering that the repukes are 2 or 3 votes short of a 2/3rds majority in the Missourian House of Representatives, who were the traitorous Democrats who voted with them?! :mad:

[cyberswede]

1. I wish all states used the Iowa redistricting policy

A non-partisan commission develops the plan based mostly on population - it doesn't favor either party.

Iowa approved their first proposal this year (legislators are often worried that if they reject the first proposal, the next one might be worse). :)

Why Redistricting in Iowa works:

No political influence on redistricting process – Plans are drawn by a non partisan staff submitted to legislature for an up or down vote

Accountability –“Redistricting principles” guide the process; political affiliation, previous election results, or the addresses of incumbents cannot be used.

No gerrymandering – Redistricting plans are criteria-driven based on clear, measurable criteria including: population equality, contiguity, unity of counties and cities, compactness

No delays – Redistricting is on a set schedule.

* The first plan is submitted to the Legislature by April 1st.
* Public hearings are held and then lawmakers have three days to bring the plan forward for a vote
* If lawmakers reject plan- staff has 35 days to bring forward a second plan

Public Input – After the first plan is submitted, a series of public hearings held in every region of the state with a report compiled and presented to the legislature

Saves money – No legislative session has ever been lengthened, no primary election schedule delayed or lawsuit filed in Iowa due to a redistricting plan submitted by its non partisan legislative staff

source: http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/2011/04/12/redistricting-reform-advocates-advance-iowa-like-proposal/

[Sherman A1]

2. As much as I really think the redistricting plan

is far less than ideal. The St. Louis area lost population and the legislature is firmly in Republican hands, so what did anyone think was going to happen?


As to the Dems that voted to overturn the Gov's veto.... that is indeed another issue and I too am wondering......

[xocet]

3. Missouri Democrats Voting Yes....

DEMOCRATS VOTING YES (www.westport-news.com/default/article/Mo-House-vote-to-override-redistricting-veto-1365236.php)

---

Michael Brown, Kansas City (www.house.mo.gov/member.aspx?district=050)

Penny Hubbard, St. Louis (www.house.mo.gov/member.aspx?district=058)

Leonard Hughes IV, Kansas City (www.house.mo.gov/member.aspx?district=042)

Jamilah Nasheed, St. Louis (www.house.mo.gov/member.aspx?district=060)

[The Northerner]

4. Does anyone know their motives for voting with the repukes?

because redistricting plan they supported will eliminate Carnahan's district and either force him into either a primary with another Democratic congressman or to abandon his present seat.

[xocet]

5. I do not know....

I called three of the four offices and spoke to two office workers. One office phone was not answered by anyone.

Neither of the office workers had any idea why the votes were cast in the way that they were.

[pintobean]

6. What I've heard

The repub plan isn't that bad and if the veto isn't overridden, it will go to the courts. They'd rather not take their chances with a court.

This is not my opinion, just what I've heard.