Today, Senate Republicans pushed the Senate to a halt in an extraordinary effort that halted the Democrat-led election rigging efforts currently being forced through the house.
"Earlier today, we submitted demands for transparency," said Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones (R-San Diego). "Democrats rejected them. In response, we’re stalling their anti-democracy, gerrymandered redistricting bill. Our goal: stop this power grab from reaching the ballot. Tonight, we scored a win. The bill was stalled until after 7pm, meaning the earliest it can be legally voted on is Thursday evening. That leaves only hours before the special election deadline for passage and Newsom’s signature."
Through a series of parliamentary procedures, Senate Republicans turned an otherwise ministerial process of approving amendments into a five hour saga on the Senate Floor with Democrats scorned at the missed opportunity to participate in the annual legislative softball game as their Assembly counterparts played on without them at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento.
"Tomorrow, the fight continues," Jones continued. "Unlike Democrats who roll over at Newsom’s demands, we’re standing up for Californians, democracy, and the Constitution."
First passed by voters in 2008, the current system for California election map drafting has been touted nationwide as a shining example of how states can prevent partisan gerrymandering. Nevertheless, Governor Newsom and legislative Democrats have kicked off an unprecedented maneuver to abolish the process in an attempt to increase the number of Democrats California sends to Congress.
"Governor Newsom and his political allies are trampling on the Constitution and disrespecting voters by rushing through the redistricting process with zero transparency and no genuine public input. This is a blatant power grab. We reject their attempt to rig the election system, sidestep the citizen-led redistricting commission, and will fight with everything we have to restore accountability and transparency to this process,” said Senator Tony Strickland (R-Huntington Beach).
Newsom's plan would see a special election called in November where Californians will be asked to approve boundaries that Democrat activists drew and released earlier this week. The plan would require the passage of two bills - AB 604 and SB 280 - as well as a constitutional amendment, ACA 8.
"Voters approved an independent process to prevent this very thing from happening," said Sen. Suzette Martinez Valladares (R-Santa Clarita). "Now, the Newsom-led Legislature is asking the people to undo a voter mandate and allow politicians to draw their own maps in the backroom. Worse, they're delusional on what their plan is even doing -- refusing to admit politicians will draw the lines. This is irresponsible government at best and authoritarianism at worst."
All three pieces of legislation will be heard Tuesday in the Senate and Assembly elections committees in an effort by Democrats to get them passed and signed by Friday.