Roanoke Times
February 16, 2008
http://www.roanoke.com/politics/wb/150998
Panel votes against redistricting bill
A House subcommittee killed the measure even though it had bipartisan support.
Michael Sluss
RICHMOND -- A House of Delegates subcommittee voted Friday to kill legislation reforming Virginia's process for drawing General Assembly and congressional district boundaries, derailing a measure that had garnered support from prominent figures in both political parties.
The state Senate passed the bill by a vote of 33-5 earlier this month. But it took just three Republicans on a House Privileges and Elections subcommittee to kill it in an early morning meeting held in a small conference room. Democrats failed to persuade the full committee to revive the bill in a later meeting that ended with chaos and shouting.
"I was a little hopeful this morning," said Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Bath County, the bill's sponsor. "I always see the glass half full, and I thought the pressure that was brought to bear on those guys might make a difference.
"I'm disappointed," he added. "But you have to fight another day."
Senate Bill 38 would create a seven-member bipartisan redistricting commission to draw boundaries for Virginia's state and federal legislative districts, but still allow the General Assembly to change the commission's plan. Deeds said a commission could improve the existing process, which effectively gives the General Assembly's majority party control over the once-a-decade drawing of new districts.
Deeds said the current configuration of the General Assembly, with each major party controlling one house, makes his proposal especially timely. Lawmakers will redraw districts in 2011.
"Now is the time for us to make a change if we're ever going to do it," he said.
The legislation had bipartisan backing in the Senate and from Gov. Tim Kaine, a Democrat, and Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, a Republican.
Deeds said the existing redistricting process dilutes competition and, as a result, discourages voter participation. Deeds noted that some legislators were elected last year in districts where only 11 percent of the registered voters cast ballots.
"That's bad for Virginia, that's bad for democracy," Deeds said.
Deeds' bill would create a seven-member panel -- six appointed by legislative and political party leaders and one appointed by the other commissioners. The panel would create a redistricting plan that contains districts with compact and contiguous territory and complies with the federal Voting Rights Act. Political interests would not be a factor in the plan.
Del. Chris Jones, R-Suffolk, the subcommittee chairman, disputed Deeds' argument that a bipartisan commission could produce more competitive districts. Jones pointed to the fact that 13 House seats won by Republicans after the 2001 redistricting are now held by Democrats.
"I don't think this solves the issue or the problem you think is out there in any sense," said Jones, who voted with Republicans Terrie Suit of Virginia Beach and John O'Bannon of Henrico County to kill the bill.
Democrats Bob Brink of Arlington and Rosalyn Dance of Petersburg opposed a motion to kill the bill.
Representatives of business groups, the Virginia League of Women Voters and other organizations urged the subcommittee to support the bill or at least send it to the full Privileges and Elections Committee for more debate.
"I would hope that, whether this committee agrees with it or not, let it get out and get aired, not shut down," Richmond businessman Jim Ukrop said.
House Democrats have complained for more than two years about a Republican-engineered rule that enables small subcommittees to kill bills without officially recorded votes. After Deeds' bill was rejected Friday, someone near the front of a small audience said sarcastically: "Democracy in action."
Jones admonished the audience, saying: "I would ask that those who are here respect this process."
Tensions escalated in a later meeting of the full Privileges and Elections Committee, when Democrats made a motion to bring Deeds' bill before the full committee.
After a voice vote against the motion, Del. Mark Cole, R-Fredericksburg, tried to adjourn the meeting. When Del. Jim Scott, D-Fairfax County, asked for a recorded vote, Cole asked for a show of hands, declared the motion defeated by a 10-8 vote, banged his gavel and adjourned the meeting. When Scott asked for a roll call, Cole said: "Make your motion again next meeting. We've got to go to caucus."
Del. William Fralin, R-Roanoke, joined Republicans in opposing a motion to revive the bill. Fralin later said: "We have to support the [subcommittee] chair in his ruling."
Fralin said he considered filing his own redistricting reform bill this year and predicted the issue will resurface in 2009.
"Just because it's dead for this year doesn't mean it's dead forever," Fralin said. "It's something that, if we're going to do it, we really need to roll up our sleeves and get it right."
Deeds said redistricting reform could happen with or without the General Assembly in 2011 if the next governor uses his or her leverage to ensure districts are drawn fairly. Deeds already has announced plans to run for governor in 2009.
"This is something that a governor can do regardless of what the legislature says," Deeds said. "If you have a governor committed to redistricting reform, it doesn't matter who's in charge of the legislature. I can tell you that something like this will happen."