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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Visionaries</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></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
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>That describes the action of Republican
leaders regarding legislative redistricting.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </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 style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In 1994, Idaho citizens
directed that this task be accomplished by a bi-partisan commission.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Clearly, it is not desirable to give
this assignment to sitting legislators.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>There would be grave danger that lines would be drawn to protect
politicians.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</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 style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The members of the first
commission were unable to reach agreement within the allotted time period.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So, a second commission was
appointed.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </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 style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </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
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Without regard to the interests of
sitting legislators, and without partisanship, they followed the Idaho
Constitution as closely as possible.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>This commission reached a solution upon which its members agreed
unanimously.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </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 style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </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 style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Lawerence
Denney and Norm Semanko take center stage.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</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
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </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
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Idaho’s Attorney General has ruled they
can’t be fired.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Idaho’s Secretary
of State refuses to declare vacancies on the commission.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>But Denney and Semanko have shopped for
and found a lawyer to support their cause.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</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
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </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 style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </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>
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