PROP 20 -REDISTRICTING OF CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS INITIATIVE

PROP 20 IN BASIC TERMS:

Prop 20 uses the 14 person California Citizens Redistricting Commission (CCRC) to re-draw the boundaries of the CA Legislative districts (CA State Assemble & CA State Senate Seats) AND would now ADD our US Congressional districts.

A Little Civics refresher:

- The State legislature consists of 2 houses - The state Assembly (80 Members) & The State Senate (40 Members).

PROP 20 A LITTLE BACKGROUND:

- We voted for the creation of the 14 person California Citizens Redistricting Commission (CCRC) in 2008 via PROP 11.

- Per Prop 11, this commission is supposed to draw the boundary lines for California state legislative districts and Board of Equalization districts after each census.

- This commission is to be comprised of Democrats, Republicans, and representatives of neither party.

- FYI - This commission still has yet to draw ANY boundaries. First there was the creation of an "applicant review panel."

Then there was an application period from 12/09 - 2/10.

From 4/10 - 7/10 Applicants were reviewed.

From 7/10 - 9/10 - Candidates were interviewed.

Since 9/10 - 11/10 - Candidates are being narrowed down.

For more info on Prop 11 go to :http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/California_Citizens_Redistricting_Commission

ARGUMENT FOR A YES ON 20:

The Prop stops the California State Legislature being in a position to draw the U.S. Congressional district boundaries "for their friends in Congress—districts that can guarantee Members of Congress get reelected."

ARGUMENTS FOR A NO ON 20:

Opponents say the prop "turns back the clock on redistricting law." "It mandates that all districts (including Assembly, Senate, and Congress) must be segregated by income level and mandates that all districts be segregated according to 'similar living standards' and that districts include only people 'with similar work opportunities."

This prop - defines "community of interest" as "a contiguous population, which shares common social and economic interests that should be included within a single district for purposes of its effective and fair representation. Examples of such shared interests are those common to an urban area, an industrial area, or an agricultural area, and those common to areas in which the people share similar living standards, use the same transportation facilities, have similar work opportunities, or have access to the same media of communication relevant to the election process."

WEIRDNESS LOOPHOLE:

Proposition 20 and Proposition 27 each a "poison pill" provision.

If both "pass", the proposition that receives the highest vote is the law that will go into effect.

PROP 20 SUMMARY:

Y - On prop 20 means - (CCRC) will re-draw the boundaries of the CA Legislative districts (CA State Assemble & CA State Senate Seats -as per Prop 11) AND NOW our US Congressional districts. This removes the California State Legislature from drawing the CA U.S. Congressional districts.

N - On Prop 20 means - The congressional districts will continue to be drawn as they have been by the State Legislature.

For more information on Proposition 20 visit http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/California_Proposition_20,_Congressional_Redistricting_%282010%29

Also watch ABC7's coverage on this item.