Re-districting …it’s all about re-election
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by Phil Tate
Missouri citizens have a rare opportunity this November to make a real difference in our political process. Amendment 1, also known as the “Clean Missouri” initiative, addresses a number of current political abuses in our state. It places a waiting period on former legislators who want to be lobbyists; it limits lobbyists’ gifts and entertainment expenditures on behalf of House and Senate members; it brings ‘dark’ independent candidate contributions into public light; and, in my opinion, most importantly, changes the way House and Senate Districts are redrawn every 10 years.
As people may remember, I was elected to six terms in the Missouri House of Representatives. Both before my time in the House and during my time there, I was involved in the process of re-districting. I began as a participant in this particular process as one of the appointed Democrat Citizen Commissioners and later as a member of the House.
I saw what happens behind closed doors.
The drawing of new lines every 10 years is mandated by law to balance the number of citizens in each district according to population changes as identified by the new census. But, the current redistricting process is buried deep in the bowels of partisan politics. It has been a hidden mystery to the public for too long.
Members of the current redistricting process are told by their respective political parties to seek maximum advantage for their respective political parties. The goal is to protect incumbents. And to draw districts that favor a candidate of one party over the other. Very seldom did politicians come to us and say “Please don’t split this county, or please don’t split this township.” They just asked us to move lines to make their primary and general elections easier. It was all about their re-election — all of it.
Half of our state legislative races under the current maps have had only one major party candidate — Republican or Democrat — on the ballot. More than 90% of races aren’t competitive at all.
Amendment 1 has clear and transparent criteria to ensure more fairness and competitiveness, and ensure neither party is given an unfair advantage. No longer will politicians from either party be able to be protected in gerrymandered districts. It is time to bring this process into the open — with public participation, a new purpose, and a fair and open process on behalf of the public — not incumbent politicians and political party advantage.
That’s why I’m supporting Amendment 1 to clean up Missouri politics.