Arizona Republicans Attack and May Remove Independent Redistricting Commission

Their Sin, Not Drawing Republican Friendly Boundaries

Arizona is one of the states that thinks that Congressional districts should be drawn on a non-partisan basis, and should not be drawn as to favor one party over the other.  As a result, a Commission composed of two Democrats, two Republicans and one Independent is charged with drawing the Congressional lines.

But Arizona Republican are furious with the Commission.  Why?  Because the Commission is not drawing districts that are favorable for the Republicans.

Under a proposed redistricting map, there is a possibility that Democrats could gain seats in Republican-controlled Arizona, and unhappy national and Arizona Republicans have been livid.

Now the process is not yet complete

The map is currently in a monthlong “public comment” period, in which the commission seeks voter feedback on the map.

But Republicans are taking no chances.  The Republican controlled group

called the Joint Legislative Committee on Redistricting is reviewing the commission’s work. Originally, four Republicans and two Democrats were to have been included in the group, but the two Democrats boycotted the hearings.

And the state's Republican Governor has already taken steps to remove Commission members if they don’t come up with districts to her liking

The GOP governor began the impeachment process for removing members from the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission by submitting a letter outlining her grievances to commission Chairwoman Colleen Mathis.

“I have issued to each member of the IRC a letter with a detailed set of allegations that rise to the level of substantial neglect of duty and gross misconduct,” Brewer said in a news release.

And if Republican

recommendations are not heeded, Republicans are seriously considering the removal effort, and Brewer’s move Wednesday night is a first step in that direction.

Now fixing Congressional districts is an old game, and one which both parties play when they can, but when there is an independent process that one party tries to upset and intimidate, well, most people would say that such tactics should not be allowed.  But for Republicans, winning trumps everything, even democracy.