FairVote’s Redistricting Page

FairVote is a fantastic origination, here is what they have to say on gerry-mandering:

http://www.fairvote.org/index.php?page=1389

From their site:

“The Re-Redistricting Crisis
Typically this process has been brutal and unfair, but occurred only once every decade. Then came House Majority Leader Tom DeLay’s infamous drive in 2003 to undo his home state of Texas’ incumbent-protection gerrymander with a Republican plan adopted over the objections of increasingly desperate Democratic state legislators. The Democrats’ flight to neighboring states drew national attention, but it was Texas Republicans’ successful unseating of four Democratic House seats through the re-redistricting process that caused party leaders to salivate.

In Georgia, in the wake of taking control of state government in 2004, Republicans in 2005 redrew the Democratic gerrymander of 2005. They piously defend the proposed lines as more compact, but their primary motivation is clear: two more Republican House seats in 2006.

Democrats talk of retaliation. House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer is no stranger to effective gerrymandering — Democrats in his state of Maryland used redistricting to oust two Republicans in 2002 — and has spoken with several Democratic governors about redrawing congressional lines in their states. “

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