Wisconsin Supreme Court Getting too Big for its Britches
This seems to be quite the grab at power.
The Legislature ‘s top Republican says the Wisconsin Supreme Court is exceeding its authority by drafting plans to rewrite the boundaries of voting districts.
Another problem is that the move forces the Republican-led Assembly and the Democratic-led Senate to hire lawyers to respond to a proposal that is before the court, which could lead to big legal bills for taxpayers, said Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch, R-West Salem.
Legislative logjams on the politically volatile issue of redistricting take place every 10 years as the major parties try to gain electoral advantage while reshaping Assembly and Senate districts to reflect changes in population.
The Supreme Court says it has to be ready to write legislative district maps in the event lawmakers can ‘t agree or the Legislature ‘s plan is challenged in court.
While it is true that redistricting often ends up in the courts, it does not end up in the Wisconsin Supreme Court - it ends up in the federal courts. The Wisconsin Supreme Court is trying to reach out and take over a process that it isn’t within its jurisdiction, and they are starting the usurpation five years out. Huebsch is right and the court should focus on its job instead of trying to reshape the political landscape in Wisconsin.
It’s too bad the Courts or better yet a non-partisan body does not draw the boundaries as they do in Iowa and in other states. Then the parties could not pick their voters, and elected officials would have to respond to a wide cross-section of voters. This process of political jerrymandering has directly led to the election of more zealots, which means gridlock, dysfunction and outright stupidity.
Political jerrymandering is an act of outright cowardice.
Posted by on December 10, 2007 at 2114 hrsWell, actually, when the Dems take the Assembly, don’t be surprised if they decide to redistrict a little early. After all, the Legislative and Executive branches haven’t successfully fulfilled their duty in over 25 years.
But yes, why the State Supreme Court feels compelled to get involved is absurd, unless they suspect that the Democrats are going to try and turn the process over to them via some change in the redistricting mechanism next session. Why the Dems would do that when they can ensure themselves 60+ seats in the Assembly and 21+ seats in the Senate is beyond me.
Posted by Recess Supervisor on December 10, 2007 at 2210 hrsSo...we can conclude that SCOWI has too many staffers.
Knock about 5 of them off the payroll; that should save the taxpayers $400K or so.
Posted by dad29 on December 11, 2007 at 0800 hrsAs someone who has lived through the chaos, acrimony, and legal battles of mid-decade redistricting, I’d advise y’all to nip this in the bud right now. We’re still dealing with the fallout of it here in Texas, and believe me, none of it is good.
Posted by on December 11, 2007 at 0937 hrsSeriously. I mean it. Stop right now.
Posted by on December 11, 2007 at 2025 hrsAPC,
No.
Signed,
Political hacks interested only in gaining and maintaining power.
Posted by on December 12, 2007 at 2114 hrsDear political hacks interested only in gaining and maintaining power,
Since forcing mid-decade redistricting down the throats of Texans, Tom DeLay has been indicted and lost his seat and position as majority leader, his Republican Party has seen its lead in the Texas House dwindle to 6 seats, his puppet Speaker of the Texas House was nearly forced from power by members of his own party, one-time Republican bastion Dallas County has gone Democratic, and great swaths of the redistricting scheme were found to be unconstitutional, and the incumbent Republican governor received only 39% of the vote in his latest reelection bid. Just wanted to give you something to look forward to.
Your friend,
Posted by on December 13, 2007 at 1547 hrs
A resurgent thanks-in-great-part-to-overreaching-Republican-mid-decade-r edistricting Texas Democratic Party
Ol' Army
