Paul Hammel
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU wrote:On a purely partisan vote, a state legislative committee voted 5-4 to advance a congressional redistricting plan Thursday morning that would move Bellevue, Offutt Air Force Base and northeast Sarpy County out of its traditional home in the Omaha-based 2nd congressional district.
It's too bad more (actually, any) states don't follow Iowa's lead and select a non-partisan panel to redraw political boundaries; it eliminates a lot of this back-and-forth B.S. that leads to no good.
"Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved."
The Iowa legislature still has to vote to approve the plan drawn up by the non-partisan redistricting folks. There can be three different plans presented if the first two don't get approved. Once they get to three, it's a pick your favorite thing. Agree - it seems to take a lot less effort than what we do in Nebraska. It still doesn't stop folks from |expletive| about the outcome. Fortunately the World Herald pretty much ignores Iowa unless something evil happens.
Was it 5 Democrats to 4 Republicans? Â I would guess this will simply make District 2 even more solidly Democrat... ie taking away the predominantly Republican active/retired military.
Shoot for the Moon... if you miss, you'll land among the stars.
No the Dems aren't happy. Â You throw all of the new suburbs in west Sarpy county that lean GOP very strong into District 2 and take Bellevue which is the most liberal part of Sarpy county and splits it from Omaha. Â Pretty much splits the Dems in the metro into 2 different districts.
It may be the most liberal part of Sarpy county... but I don't expect it would make much of a difference for a Democratic candidate in the 1st District.. Bellevue is still going to lean Republican... it may take a few Dems away... but I think it takes more Republican leaning votes away... this is a freaking military base for crying out loud. Â If anything, perhaps the Republicans are simply trying to solidify the 2nd District... realizing the possibility for losing the entire state exists.
Shoot for the Moon... if you miss, you'll land among the stars.
Well both of the Dems proposals had Bellevue and Offutt staying in Omaha and giving more of the Chalco/Gretna/Papillion to D1. Â It may not be much, but those parts of the south west metro are about a red as can be. Â The Dems would obviously take a 25%(just a broad guess) of Bellevue/Offutt than a 10% of SW Sarpy. Â They are saying it is highly unrealistic for Obama to take Omaha in the next election with this proposal.
mrdwhsr wrote:The Iowa legislature still has to vote to approve the plan drawn up by the non-partisan redistricting folks. There can be three different plans presented if the first two don't get approved. Once they get to three, it's a pick your favorite thing. Agree - it seems to take a lot less effort than what we do in Nebraska. It still doesn't stop folks from |expletive| about the outcome. Fortunately the World Herald pretty much ignores Iowa unless something evil happens.
True, but the way it works is they don't even look at the federal Congressional districts; that's an afterthought in the voting process. The legislature's looking at their own districts when deciding to keep it or not.
By Paul Hammel WORLD-HERALD BUREAU wrote:On a 30-11 vote in which all 30 “yes” votes were Republicans and all 11 opponents were Democrats, lawmakers adopted an amendment that would move most of eastern Sarpy County, including Bellevue and Offutt Air Force Base, out of the 2nd District and into the Lincoln-based 1st congressional district.
Paul Hammel WORLD-HERALD BUREAU wrote:Outnumbered but undaunted, Democrats in the officially nonpartisan Nebraska Legislature launched a filibuster Monday in hopes of altering a GOP senator-backed plan to redraw the state's three U.S. House districts. State Sen. Russ Karpisek of Wilber launched the talkfest, proposing an alternative plan to the congressional map drawn by a Republican, Omaha Sens. Scott Lautenbaugh.
Republicans would appear to have the votes to stop a filibuster after eight hours and advance the Lautenbaugh plan. That would take 33 votes. But extended debate could spoil a plan to end the 90-day session of the Legislature three days early, on Thursday.
MARGERY A. BECK, Associated Press wrote:One political expert says a proposed redistricting plan that would shift traditionally Democratic votes out of the Omaha-based 2nd Congressional District could keep President Barak Obama from campaigning in eastern Nebraska. Mike Wagner is a political science professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He says if Obama decides not to campaign in Nebraska, it could affect not only the 2nd District race, but the 2012 U.S. Senate race, as well. Wagner says if Obama decides not to campaign in Nebraska, that could "keep some Nelson voters at home."
Paul Hammel WORLD-HERALD BUREAU wrote:A Democrat-led filibuster of a congressional redistricting plan was headed off Monday, but only after one sick senator received a ride to the State Capitol and another returned from work in an Omaha courtroom. The 33-15 vote to end the filibuster — the bare minimum needed. Final-round debate on the congressional redistricting plan will be held Tuesday morning. Approval appears inevitable.
Is anyone able to post a larger map showing the exact changes that will now, apparently, take place?
"The right to have access to every building in the city by private motorcar in an age when everyone possesses such a vehicle is actually the right to destroy the city."
Lewis Mumford, The Highway and the City, 1963
