Emails suggest Republicans gerrymandered Michigan to weaken 'Dem garbage'
Emails have emerged in a federal lawsuit that suggest Republicans gerrymandered congressional districts in Michigan in 2011 to maintain an advantage over Democrats, despite years of claims the lines are drawn without political bias.
The lawsuit references private emails that allegedly show one Republican aide saying a Macomb County district is shaped like its giving the finger to (Democratic U.S. Rep.) sandy levin. I love it. Another email from a GOP staffer was said to brag about cramming Dem garbage into four southeast Michigan congressional districts.
In a third email, a longtime Michigan Chamber of Commerce executive predicts the maps will keep Republicans in power for years and implies the 4th Congressional District in the central Lower Peninsula was drawn to the wishes of Dave Camp, a longtime Republican congressman from Midland who has since retired.
We will accommodate whatever Dave wants in his district, wrote Robert LaBrant, who has since left the Michigan Chamber and is now a GOP consultant, on May 18, 2011, to two Republican consultants and a Camp staffer. Weve spent a lot of time providing options to ensure we have a solid 9-5 delegation in 2012 and beyond.
https://www.bridgemi.com/public-sector/emails-suggest-republicans-gerrymandered-michigan-weaken-dem-garbage