At Least Someone's Trying

Rep. John Tanner (D-TN) is taking on the futile, but notable, task of reforming redistricting.

So Tanner has once again — for the third Congress in a row — introduced legislation that would end political gerrymandering by nationalizing standards for congressional districting and taking away redistricting power from State Legislatures. Tanner’s bill would require each state to establish an independent, bipartisan commission to redraw congressional district lines, with its members equally appointed by the two parties in the statehouse. The group’s chairman would be elected by the original commissioners.

The national standards in Tanner’s bill seek to ensure that districts reflect organic communities, rather than surgically carved out blocs of voters. The redistricting commission would aim to make districts equal in population size, adhere to traditional boundaries such as city limits and maintain contiguity and compactness.

They specifically would not be allowed to take into consideration voting history, party affiliation of voters or consequences for the incumbent.

Anyone who ever complains about the lack of moderation and consensus on even the simplest issues in Congress needs to call their representatives and senators and ask them to support this legislation.

Source: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0709/25365.html#ixzz0MCaC3uiD