Republicans Are Passing Rigged Maps and Democrats Are Running Out of Time to Stop It

[Nevilledog]

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2021/10/republicans-are-passing-rigged-maps-and-democrats-are-running-out-of-time-to-stop-it/

It took Texas Republicans less than 30 days to pass redistricting maps for Congress and the state legislature that will help them retake the US House in 2022 and entrench control of state politics for the next decade. Meanwhile, it’s been 230 days since the House of Representatives passed federal legislation—the For the People Act—that would roll back the gerrymandering and voter suppression enacted by GOP-controlled states such as Texas, but the Senate has taken no action to protect voting rights while Republican-dominated states relentlessly undermine them.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has scheduled a vote on his party’s new voting rights bill, the Freedom to Vote Act, for Wednesday but there is still no plan for overcoming a GOP filibuster to pass it. To understand the high costs of inaction, look no further than Texas.

One month after passing one of the country’s worst voter suppression laws, Texas Republicans enacted new redistricting maps that lock in power for white Republicans by denying fair representation to communities of color.

“The partisan effects of the map are achieved by discriminating against communities of color.”
Ninety-five percent of the state’s population growth in the last decade came from communities of color, but, in an astonishingly brazen effort to forestall these demographic changes, the new redistricting maps for the state legislature and US House increase the number of districts with white majorities—overwhelmingly held by Republicans—and decrease the number of districts with Hispanic and Black majorities.

*snip*

[aocommunalpunch]

1. Why can't our dealmakers make deals?

Same old same old.

[ColinC]

2. I mean have you seen Illinois latest draft? Also pretty sure repugs will be lucky to have one

Or two seats in NY after next year.

[brooklynite]

3. Not clear how Federal legislation will affect State redistricting efforts.

[dsc]

4. they can ban gerrymandering

that is in their power and gerrymandering is mathematically measurable.

[GoodRaisin]

6. Have to challenge these maps in the courts.

That’s about all we can do until we have a strong Federal law banning it. And, even that will be challenged.

It’s a daily war of battles we just have to keep fighting.