See below for video from this morning’s in-person Virginia Redistricting Commission meeting, as well as some comments by VAPLAN, namely that:
“It’s just crazy sometimes to think that after yrs of advocacy for a nonpartisan independent redistricting process, we sit here today listening to a bunch of legislators talk in the @CommissionVa, and hear the words “Democratic” and “Republican” spoken dozens of times per meeting.
[Del. Marcus Simon] clarifies that though the Repub-leaning law firm has represented some pretty atrocious clients, it was the ONLY one that applied, so commission subcom did decide to enter $$ negotiations with that firm. Full comttee votes yes 11-3 w Feliciano, Abrenio, Hutchens, no.”
As always, the question is why any Democrats voted for the fatally flawed redistricting amendment, when it was crystal clear that it was NOT going to be “nonpartisan” or “independent” redistricting, but instead a *highly* partisan process, effectively controlled by powerful Republican and Democratic legislators, and with a right-wing Republican/”Federalist Society”-connected law firm (along with a Democratic-leaning law firm) providing legal counsel to the commission. Also, note that the commission previously voted DOWN the idea of getting a NON-PARTISAN law firm to provide legal counsel, but instead opted for a highly partisan process instead. So…again, why did any Democrat, let alone progressive, support putting this mess in the Virginia constitution? Ugh…
P.S. Note that the vast majority of VA House Dems in March 2020 voted *against* Amendment 1…but it barely passed, as Republicans and a few Dems strongly supported it, for whatever reasons.
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