Finally! A plan to take Florida back from the Bush cartel

[quaoar]

http://www.mydd.com/section/governor

Florida 2006: Non-partisan redistricting, Castor, Nelson
by Jerome Armstrong

After ACORN and Floridians For All (the ones behind the successful effort that makes law a state minimum wage starting at $6.15 per hour six months after enactment and indexed to inflation each year) won at the ballot with 71%, it gives a bit of hope for progressive reform in Florida's 2006 election for Democrats. In a recent strategy group, I learned from talking with a few Floridian leaders about a number of plans that are being worked on for 2006.

Specfically, a ballot initiative is being spearheaded by Democrats for 2006 that would turn over redistricting to a non-partisan body. That would put an end to a partisan system that's produced an unbalanced 18-7 Republican congressional delegation; a 84-36 Republican State House; and a 26-14 Republican State Senate. In a state that's pretty much 50-50 in terms of partisan strength at the ballot, it takes an awful lot of gerrymandering to produce such results.

It's being combined with an effort to clear the field for Betty Castor running for Governor. Alongside Bill Nelson's Senate re-election campaign, the two will champion the ballot initiative for the 2006 campaign. Other possible Governor candidates, such as Davis, Chiles, and Maddox are being encouraged to run for the three Cabinet seats also that will also be on the ballot in 2006. There's no guarantee that the slate will pan out this way, but it does sound attractive to go into Sept. 06 with a unified partisan effort against what's sure to be a crowded and devisive Republican field for the Governor & Senate nominations.

[Liberty Belle]

1. That's encouraging, as long as...

the Republicans don't rig the voting machines against the initiative measure.

[Qutzupalotl]

2. What's a "nonpartisan"?

Is that like Bill O'Reilly being an "Independent"?

/sarcasm

It's a start, but how can we be sure a nonpartisan body will stay that way?

[forgethell]

3. It won't.

It will be packed with either Democrats of Republicans. both very partisan.