Redistricting Commission OK's final draft of maps

[alp227]

Source: Associated Press

(07-29) 17:08 PDT Sacramento -- A citizens commission established by voters to independently create California's legislative and congressional districts delivered its first set of maps Friday, voting to adopt new boundaries that appear to give majority Democrats even more power in the nation's most populous state.

The 14-member California Citizens Redistricting Commission approved final draft versions of district maps for Congress, the state Assembly and Senate, and the state Board of Equalization, which administers sales and use taxes.

Even before the vote, the drafts were being heavily scrutinized by political parties, communities and minority groups because they will be used in state elections for the next decade, helping shape California's congressional delegation, the nation's largest, and the composition of the 120-member state Legislature.

Redistricting experts said the new maps are likely to reduce the influence of Republicans even further.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/07/30/BAKJ1KH2D7.DTL&ao=all

[1monster]

1. Don't worry, Repiglicans! Despite the recently adopted Amendment that forbid

gerrymanding in Florida, the maps are already being drawn (again) in such a way as to stifle and subjugate the majority Democratic voters to the minority Republican voters... I'm sure the same in happening in many other states. California will most likely not be the norm. (darn!)

[SoapBox]

2. K & R n/t