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<DIV>S-</DIV>
<DIV>thanks for the report</DIV>
<DIV>one question .... if (as you note) “Denney and Semanko have shopped for and
found a lawyer to support their cause”, who is paying for that legal
advice? Are the taxpayers hiring a lawyer to argue against Idaho Attorney
General to stack the commission with pro-Republican members?</DIV>
<DIV>BL</DIV>
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<DIV style="font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=ringoshirl@moscow.com
href="mailto:ringoshirl@moscow.com">Shirley Ringo</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, January 24, 2012 3:16 PM</DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A title=vision2020@moscow.com
href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">Vision 2020</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> [Vision2020] Legislative report, week 2</DIV></DIV></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Visionaries</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT
face=Calibri>Legislative Report, week 2</FONT></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><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 style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><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 style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><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 style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><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 style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><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 style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT
face=Calibri>There should be no controversy we await the new plan.</FONT></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><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 style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT
face=Calibri>To their credit, Crow and Hansen refuse to leave.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Idahos Attorney General has ruled they
cant be fired.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Idahos 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 style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><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 style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT
face=Calibri>Representative Shirley Ringo</FONT></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT
face=Calibri></FONT> </P>
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