From the Virginia Senate Democratic Caucus:
SENATE DEMS’ COMMENT ON SB 106, CONGRESSIONAL AND STATE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS; COMPACTNESS STANDARDS
RICHMOND — Today, a bill championed by Senator David Suetterlein (R-Roanoke County), SB 106 — which changes redistricting criteria to make political subdivisions the primary factor in the redrawing of districts — passed the Virginia Senate on a near party-line vote, just one day after the bill was amended on the Floor causing this dramatic policy shift. Both days saw heated debate on the Senate Floor, with Senate Democrats objecting to the sudden change.
Senator George Barker (D-Fairfax) said, “This is a very significant issue that we have before us and we have to look at it very carefully. We have to make sure that we go about this to ensure that the lines are drawn legally and fairly.We have to keep in mind that we are one Commonwealth and not 130 some odd sovereign entities that have to have their own territories respected in regards to this situation.”
Senator Jennifer McClellan (D-
Senator John Edwards (D-Roanoke City) said, “Counties in Virginia were originally set up so a citizen in the county could get to the county seat by horseback in a day. Things have changed dramatically since then. This bill is going to allow that antiquated system to trump any other consideration in how we draw our legislative lines in Virginia. You are putting legislative lines on top of 19th century locality lines that do not necessarily relate to communities of interest in the 21st century. It makes absolutely no sense.”
Senator Creigh Deeds (D-Bath) said “I am not going to vote for this bill because it placed es one criterion, political subdivision lines, above all others. I think the people that want redistricting reform are interested in districts that produce more competitive races and the competitive races are not the end in themselves – the competitive races, they hope, will produce a legislative body that is more conducive to solving problem and not just a polarized debating society.”