These two are really disgusting. Semanko, for example, acts as a lobbyist even though he is the party chairperson of the majority party -- a clear conflict.<br><br>w.<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Jan 24, 2012 at 3:16 PM, Shirley Ringo <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:ringoshirl@moscow.com">ringoshirl@moscow.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><u></u>
<div bgcolor="#ffffff">
<div><font face="Arial">Visionaries</font></div>
<div><font face="Arial"></font> </div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN:0in 0in 10pt;LINE-HEIGHT:normal"><font face="Calibri">Legislative Report, week 2</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN:0in 0in 10pt;LINE-HEIGHT:normal"><font face="Calibri">Extreme, over-the-top, partisanship.<span> </span>That describes the action of Republican
leaders regarding legislative redistricting.<span> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN:0in 0in 10pt;LINE-HEIGHT:normal"><font face="Calibri">The new population count obtained from the US census requires that
state legislative districts be redrawn to achieve relative equal numbers in each
district.<span> </span>In 1994, Idaho citizens
directed that this task be accomplished by a bi-partisan commission.<span> </span>Clearly, it is not desirable to give
this assignment to sitting legislators.<span>
</span>There would be grave danger that lines would be drawn to protect
politicians.<span>
</span>Gerrymandering.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN:0in 0in 10pt;LINE-HEIGHT:normal"><font face="Calibri">In response to the 1994 initiative, Idaho now has a bi-partisan
redistricting committee consisting of three Republicans and three
Democrats.<span> </span>The members of the first
commission were unable to reach agreement within the allotted time period.<span> </span>So, a second commission was
appointed.<span> </span>For the Republicans,
House Speaker Lawerence Denney appointed Dolores Crow, Senate Pro Tem Brent Hill
appointed Sheila Olsen, and Republican Party Chair Norm Semanko appointed Randy
Hansen.<span> </span>For the Democrats, House
Minority Leader John Rusche appointed Shauneen Grange, Senate Minority Leader
Edgar Malepeai appointed Elmer Martinez, and Democrat Party Chair Larry Grant
appointed Ron Beitelspacher.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN:0in 0in 10pt;LINE-HEIGHT:normal"><font face="Calibri">The members of the second commission approached the problem of
redrawing district lines exactly as Idaho citizens envisioned.<span> </span>Without regard to the interests of
sitting legislators, and without partisanship, they followed the Idaho
Constitution as closely as possible.<span>
</span>This commission reached a solution upon which its members agreed
unanimously.<span> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN:0in 0in 10pt;LINE-HEIGHT:normal"><font face="Calibri">Subsequently, their plan was challenged in the court and
overturned.<span> </span>The second commission,
which approved the plan, must now make adjustments in an attempt to satisfy the
court.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN:0in 0in 10pt;LINE-HEIGHT:normal"><font face="Calibri">There should be no controversy – we await the new plan.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN:0in 0in 10pt;LINE-HEIGHT:normal"><font face="Calibri">Not so fast.<span> </span>Lawerence
Denney and Norm Semanko take center stage.<span>
</span>These two politicians have announced their plan to fire Dolores Crow and
Randy Hansen from the Commission – at least in part because they think these
commissioners failed to help their party enough.<span> </span>In other words, these politicians,
Denney and Semanko, are going to remove two members they appointed to a
bi-partisan commission for the crime of not having been sufficiently partisan.
</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN:0in 0in 10pt;LINE-HEIGHT:normal"><font face="Calibri">To their credit, Crow and Hansen refuse to leave.<span> </span>Idaho’s Attorney General has ruled they
can’t be fired.<span> </span>Idaho’s Secretary
of State refuses to declare vacancies on the commission.<span> </span>But Denney and Semanko have shopped for
and found a lawyer to support their cause.<span>
</span>Denney and Semanko have now filed a petition in the Idaho Supreme Court
to immediately order Secretary of State Ben Ysursa to declare two vacancies on
the Idaho citizens’ redistricting commission.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN:0in 0in 10pt;LINE-HEIGHT:normal"><font face="Calibri">Meanwhile, the filing deadline for the primary election looms.<span> </span>Idahoans are held hostage by insensitive
leaders who seem incapable of responding appropriately. The people spoke in 1994
– they do not want legislative districts to give an edge to any political
party.<span> </span>Denney and Semanko should
let the process work.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN:0in 0in 10pt;LINE-HEIGHT:normal"><font face="Calibri">Representative Shirley Ringo</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN:0in 0in 10pt;LINE-HEIGHT:normal"><font face="Calibri"></font> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN:0in 0in 10pt"><u></u><u></u><font face="Calibri"> </font><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN:0in 0in 10pt"><u></u><font face="Calibri"> </font><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN:0in 0in 10pt"><u></u><font face="Calibri"> </font><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN:0in 0in 10pt"><u></u><font face="Calibri"> </font><u></u></p></div></div>
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