California Redistricting Battle--More Action Expected This Week

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Frank D. Russo

As Senator Alan Lowenthal introduces a redistricting measure today that is expected to be similar to the one he fought for and managed to get passed by the State Senate last year, and speculation is surfacing that there may be another ballot initiative in the works, I am reminded of the great opening lines of Stephen Crane's Red Badge of Courage:

The cold passed reluctantly from the earth, and the retiring fogs revealed an arm stretched out on the hills, resting. As the landscape changed from brown to green, the army awakened, and began to tremble with eagerness as the noise of rumors.

By the end of this week, the landscape should show the pieces in place for the next pitched battle over redistricting, including:

• ACA 1 announced by Democratic Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez at an impromptu press conference last week, to have the Little Hoover Commission redraw all boundaries, including Congressional lines.

• SCA 9 by Republican Senate Leader Roy Ashburn, , which would package together in one measure, with term limit modifications, campaign finance changes, and accountability reform, a redistricting proposal similar to Lowenthal's SCA 3 of last year, but without Congressional lines being redrawn.

• Lowenthal's proposal to be introduced today.

• Two ballot initiatives which have received title and summary from the Attorney General's office and have been cleared for circulation (One by Ted Costa and another by a coalition that includes him and California Common Cause and the California League of Women Voters).

• A third ballot initiative by Ted Costa that has not yet been cleared for circulation

• A fourth ballot initiative, which may or may not have surfaced by the end of the week.