No excuse not to approve nonpartisan redistricting panel for NC

Whatever happened to N.C. House Bill 92 – you know, the one that would set up a nonpartisan redistricting process to produce fairer congressional and legislative districts in our state? It has the bipartisan support of 63 cosponsors, so it would easily pass the 120-seat House. It is identical to the bill introduced last year with 61 bipartisan cosponsors. And it is identical to the bill that actually passed the House in 2011 with a bipartisan vote of 88 to 27, led by then-Speaker Thom Tillis. Regrettably, the Senate never considered the bill.

Polls show that the majority of North Carolinians favor nonpartisan redistricting. They are very tired of gerrymandering: politicians choosing their voters rather than voters choosing their representatives.

Over 160 N.C. mayors and other civic leaders are supporting redistricting reform. Gov. Pat McCrory is on record expressing his frustration with gerrymandered districts. “Odd couples” have shared the stage to speak out for reform: Republican former mayor Richard Vinroot of Charlotte and Democrat former mayor Charles Meeker of Raleigh, John Hood of the conservative John Locke Foundation and Chris Fitzsimon of the progressive N.C. Policy Watch. Republican Rep. Skip Stam of Apex has been introducing bills for redistricting reform since 1989!

Both voted for the identical bill in 2011, and Jones co-sponsored the identical bill in 2013. Yet to date, there are no signs that this year’s version of redistricting reform will be heard in their committee. There has been no explanation why.

Not allowing debate on a bill that has a majority of House members cosponsoring it is not only unusual – it is also wrong. The public wants an end to gerrymandering. They understand the conflict of lawmakers drawing their own districts. Citizens across party lines know having a process of the fox guarding the hen house is not healthy for democracy.

Republican Party leaders need to let the democratic process play out. This is legislation they have long championed. North Carolina Republicans remember all too well how frustrating it was when their voices weren’t heard because of gerrymandered districts. Redistricting reform ensures this never happens again. It’s time to end gerrymandering once and for all in North Carolina, and it starts with letting H92 be heard in committee.

The residents of North Carolina deserve no less.

This story was originally published April 20, 2015 at 6:45 PM with the headline "No excuse not to approve nonpartisan redistricting panel for NC."