THE ISSUE:The redrawing of congressional and legislative districts.
OUR VIEW:Take politics out of the process.
Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita is right. It’s time to shake up the way this state draws its congressional and legislative districts.
Rokita pitched a plan last week that would make it illegal for lawmakers to consider political data when coming up with district boundaries.
Some have suggested that lawmakers should be taken out of the process, but legislative leaders say it’s too late for that this time around. They say the only way to take redistricting out of the hands of lawmakers would be to amend the state constitution and the process to do that would take at least until 2012. The Legislature faces a deadline of 2011 to come up with new maps reflecting next year’s Census.
The fact is, though, that lawmakers can improve the process without taking themselves out of the picture.
As it now stands, many districts are drawn to be safe seats. The old joke is that one party so outnumbers the other in such districts that even a yellow dog could win out over a qualified candidate from the minority party.
That’s not the way our elected representatives should be chosen.
Competitive elections would result in the election of representatives who would be more responsive to the concerns of individual voters and less obligated to the vested interests in Indianapolis and Washington.
During a speech unveiling his plan, Rokita showed a film clip of Indiana residents viewing the shapes of legislative districts and guessing what they looked like. The responses included a dog, dragons, alligators and a squirrel.
He noted that since the current district maps were drawn in 2001 candidates in two of every five legislative races have run without major party opposition.
Rokita believes districts should follow existing county, city and township lines as closely as possible. He also favors having each of the state’s 50 Senate districts include two of the 100 House districts.
Such a plan simply makes sense. The problem is that the only way it will pass is to win legislative support, and the early returns there aren’t all that promising. Legislative leaders from Rokita’s own party have already come out saying that Rokita has overstepped his bounds by inserting himself into a debate that should be the province of the Legislature.
Frankly, that’s just wrong. The people who own these maps are the taxpayers, and the interests the map-makers should be looking out for are those of voters.
Rokita appears to be doing that. We hope both lawmakers and voters will take notice.
– Pharos-Tribune, Logansport, and Kokomo Tribune
Opinion
Redistricting needs change
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White shouldn’t return to office
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Our view: Charlie White’s ouster from office should be permanent.
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Editorial - Feb. 8, 2012: Grand success for Indianapolis
The issue: The Super Bowl.
Our view: Indianapolis left a great impression on thousands of visitors.
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Letters to the Editor: Feb. 8, 2012
As Hoosiers celebrate the conclusion of a truly remarkable Super Bowl experience, there is even more good news that should fill us with pride. More Indiana students are graduating from high school than ever before.
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The Indiana Senate last week approved a bill that would allow public schools to teach creationism, as long as they include theories from multiple religions.
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If you say so
In an opinion piece we published Thursday, state Rep. Mike Karickhoff announced why he voted against “right-to-work” legislation. His reason: The community told him to.
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Cheers and jeers - Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012
Karickhoff acted ‘cowardly’
The Rev. Robin Wentworth Mayer and Horst G. Mayer of Kokomo send the Jeer for state Rep. Mike Karickhoff’s silence during the “right-to-work” debate:
“Mr. Karickhoff, for someone who’s new to office, you’ve certainly learned the art of talking out of both sides of your mouth.
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Let’s drug test our lawmakers
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Editorial - Feb. 2, 2012: Peru delivers a message
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Karickhoff: Reason behind my ‘right-to-work’ vote
There is no doubt the “right-to-work” debate has brought mixed emotions, not only to our state but District 30 as well. There were only a handful of House Republicans who did not vote in support of this legislation. Let me explain why I felt it was necessary for me to vote in opposition to right to work.
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Heinig: ‘Right-to-work’ law to arouse continued resistance
I wouldn’t call Gov. Mitch Daniels a charismatic leader, but he does possess some leadership skills. If he didn’t, he couldn’t have brought us this far along the happy trail to his economic Valhalla.
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