Now we know why Governor McAuliffe vetoed funding for an independent committee on ethics reform in Virginia government and decided instead to appoint his own ethics advisory board. His 10 member board is co-chaired by (almost) Republican Bill Bolling and former Congressman, Democrat Rick Boucher. The board was ostensibly formed to recommend changes to Virginia’s ethics laws in the wake of Governor Bob McDonnell’s arrest and conviction.[read_more]Governor McAuliffe also said sometime in the future he would like the board to make recommendations for non-partisan redistricting of the state’s legislative districts. Now we learn the redistricting issue has moved to the forefront of the ethics board’s agenda.
A few weeks ago a panel of three judges ruled 2 to 1 that Black voters were unfairly packed into Congressman Bobby Scott’s 3rd district. They ordered the General Assembly to more fairly redistrict the state’s 11 Congressional districts by April 1. Not long after the ruling some General Assembly members told The Bull Elephant that McAuliffe would veto any redistricting plan that came from the Republican dominated Assembly. So who will decide how the state is redistricted? McAuliffe answered that question when he said the judges’ ruling
“demonstrates the need to get partisan politics out of how Virginia draws its legislative boundaries.” Nonpartisan redistricting is now on the ethics panel’s agenda for its inaugural meeting today.
The so called ‘ethics panel’ will be focused on redistricting. Judges ordered the General Assembly to develop a plan for redistricting but it appears the job will fall to a 10 member group appointed by Governor McAuliffe to work on state ethics reform. It looks like McAuliffe’s ‘ethics panel’ is all about partisan politics and redistricting. Shocking, I know. Who would have expected such partisan manipulation from that great fundraiser Terry McAuliffe?
More details on the story here.
30 comments
Does anyone know when this redistricting map must be created?
I am asking because I see from our local paper that Joe May is also on the committee. Joe May is a former N. VA delegate who lost a primary to Dave LaRock and special senate election to Jennifer Wexton.
I’m putting 2 and 2 together and thinking about how Joe May would like to see things redistricted. Knowing that McAuliffe HATES Sen. Dick Black and that Joe May lives very near the border of Black’s district, I’m wondering if there is a movement afoot to put Joe May into Black’s district to primary him?
You know, this is kind of a tricky situation. By stripping the 3rd district, black voters could end up losing everything by being folded into majority districts. Which would probably invite even more Federal investigations and a host of lawsuits. Maybe the smart thing to do would be to set up overall minority districts where possible instead of this patchwork district crap that passes for equal opportunity in Virginia. Yeah, that probably means the Republicans would lose a few GA seats. At least until they finally change their demographic definition of party candidates.
Anything new on Warner/Puckett?
I have no doubt the feds will hold off until after the election to announce anything. Obama and Holder will do all they can to help Warner.
my Fed sources tell me that this ethics panel has no authority to draw redistricting maps. Sure, they can make recommendations–so can I. The author knows this, right?
That is correct the courts and DOJ will be closely involved and this appointed group at best can simply submit recommendations to GA and governor they can’t legally redraw anything
Since the Governor won’t agree to anything the GA wants, his plans are likely to prevail. This committee will decide what those plans will be.
No. The author has no idea how the process works. She’s just pontificating another load of crap and will refuse to acknowledge your point.
by Virginia law, who redistricts? does this panel have legal authority to submit plans for Gov’s signature? is this what the article describes?
There are two ways redistricting will happen.
Method 1 is the general assembly creates a plan, votes on it, then it goes to the Governor who will either sign it, amend it or veto it.
Method 2 is, if Method 1 does not end in an agreement, then the Federal Eastern District of Virginia court will implement a plan. This plan would very likely be non-partisan, at least partly, since the state legislature would have limited say in it beyond the plan they passed but the Governor vetoed. The Court might select that plan, but most likely not.
Jeanine is, as usual, just regurgitating bullshit. The Governor cannot unilaterally do redistricting on his own.
that is why I ask the rhetorical questions in hope that she will re-read her post. she could then amend or correct her post. at best, the article misleads.
She never does admit her short comings
I can SEEEEE you.
Good. I can read what you post. I know I makes mistakes. How about you?
Zero chance of that.
And where did she say the Governor could do this unilaterally? She said the job is the GA’s, and that the Governor is manipulating the process. Do you think that’s wrong, or are you “just regurgitating bullshit”?
Let’s look at this sentence construction.
“So who will decide how the state is redistricted?”
OK Jeanine, tell us who
“The so called ‘ethics panel’ will be focused on redistricting. Judges ordered the General Assembly to develop a plan for redistricting but it appears the job will fall to a 10 member group appointed by Governor McAuliffe to work on state ethics reform.”
He she clearly says who. “the job will fall to a 10 member group appointed by Governor McAuliffe..” She states that the committee will develop a plan instead of the General Assembly. This is incorrect.
Ok, the plan designed by the ‘ethics committee’ is likely to prevail because the Governor is likely to veto any plan presented by the GA.
Does the General assembly have any more credibility than Governor McAuliffe ?
To me the Republican Legislative Majority lack the desire to lead with integrity .
I know our previous Republican Administration was complicit in illegal commerce and illegal employment here in Va.
When in Office they chose what and how to enforce laws. Won’t redistricting require writing statutes ?
Look, I know you are upset about the fact that Harry Reid is going to lose control of the Senate, and I know that it is getting harder and harder for even you to swallow the “Warner will win by double digits” argument you keep spewing, but you should be a little nicer. You seem to have a vendetta against Jeanine, and you are starting to sound more and more like a troll.
You’re insane if you believe what you just wrote.
Jeanine never said he could unilaterally do redistricting. I am sure McAuliffe’s plan is to veto any plan put forward by the GA, then have his “non-partisan ethics committee” submit a “non-partisan” alternative to the courts in the hopes that is gets implemented. Then it would depend on who appointed the judge to the court as to what plan gets implemented.
Jeanine’s point is that this is supposed to be an ethics commission, not a redistricting commission. Her point is that McAuliffe has no interest in ethics reform, because it would get in the way of his wheeling and dealing.
Anyway, it really doesn’t matter because this is a Congressional Plan and the 11 members of the House will most likely get together and support an incumbent protection plan that will be supported by both the Republicans and Democrats in the GA, so even if McAuliffe tries to veto it, he would get over-ridden.
So where did Jeanine say that the Ethics Panel has the authority to draw the maps? Nowhere, you say? That’s what I thought.
The point is that a so-called “Ethics” panel should have nothing to do with redistricting. The fact that the panel will suggests the Governor is going to wring a pro-Democrat plan out of this panel that will stand a greater chance of passage in the General Assembly than if the GA generated its own organically. Democrats will scream bloody murder if Republicans stand in the way of the map drawn by a “bipartisan” “ethics” panel, and the Governor can play chicken with Republicans in the GA (“I will not sign on to a plan not generated by an independent, bipartisan panel”), thus forcing Republicans to accept it or to send it back to the courts.
The larger question is whether this turns into “deal time” with members of the GA, and more than just Congressional lines end up getting redrawn (i.e., Delegate and Senate districts).
I take it then that you believe Gov. McAuliffe’s “bipartisan” panel is not all that bipartisan in nature even while co-chaired by former Republican Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling. I thought that was called the “Virginia way”, watch out Steve you may be slipping to the dark side with the rest of us malcontents.
Steve, I’m not going to fuss with you (or Jeanine) since you graciously allow me to comment here. the article certainly leads one to believe that this panel will advise on redistricting. “forefront of their agenda”. You & I know that redistricting could be on the forefront of the Huddle House community coffee table, but those, too, have no power or authority to draw lines.
I didn’t vote for this panel
The idea that McDonnell may go to jail for accepting gifts but giving nothing in return while McAuliffe, who made his living swindling taxpayers, renting out the Lincoln bedroom for donations, selling American citizenship to the Chinese, and more is just appalling. We get what we deserve when we vote for a guy like him.
Bob McDonnell and his wife are both going to jail because he committed crimes while he was governor. Terry isn’t because he hasn’t committed any crimes, neither while governor nor before.
Gotta admit he’s a sleazeball though. 😉
The Previous Va. Republican Administration was complicit in allowing illegal aliens to work as unlicensed contractors. The same Administration had data to prosecute yet lacked the morality to do so. I am sure glad that the Att. General is at home also.