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WASHINGTON, D.C.-Congressman Allen Boyd (D-FL) today joined Congressmen John Tanner (D-TN) and Zach Wamp (R-TN) at a press conference to highlight the need for a fair redistricting process in the wake of the recent Supreme Court ruling. In June, the Supreme Court refused to denounce the current, often politically-tainted, redistricting practice and ruled that it is allowable for states to break with the once-a-decade redistricting tradition.
"Last month's Supreme Court ruling was a step back for the American people and unfortunately did not get us any closer to establishing a fair redistricting process," said Congressman Boyd. "Redrawing congressional district maps for political gain divides communities of interest, polarizes Florida voters along partisan lines, and silences the constituency. We need meaningful changes in the way we elect our representatives-changes that will take redistricting power away from politicians and give it back to the people of Florida where it belongs."
Congressman Boyd is a cosponsor of the Fairness and Independence in Redistricting Act (HR 2642). This legislation calls for an independent, bipartisan commission in each state to redraw congressional district maps every 10 years and restricts redistricting efforts from taking place between census cycles.
Redistricting is traditionally conducted every 10 years, following the decennial census, to ensure equal population in each congressional district. Many have come to view the process as a partisan opportunity to strengthen some incumbencies and weaken the chances of their political opponents. Due in part to the redistricting system, 95 percent of incumbents retained their U.S. House seats in the 2004 election, and only seven seats out of 435 changed hands from one major party to another.
The Fairness and Independence in Redistricting Act has been endorsed by FairVote, the National Taxpayers Union, and Public Citizen.
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