[net-gold] UNITED STATES: STATES: GOVERNMENT : POLITICAL SCIENCE: ELECTIONS AND VOTING: GERRYMANDERING : POLITICS: ELECTIONS AND ELECTION: CAMPAIGNS FUNDING: The Hidden Hands in Redistricting: Corporations and Other Powerful Interests
- From: "David P. Dillard" <jwne@xxxxxxxxxx>
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- Date: Mon, 26 Sep 2011 06:17:32 -0400 (EDT)
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UNITED STATES: STATES: GOVERNMENT :
POLITICAL SCIENCE: ELECTIONS AND VOTING: GERRYMANDERING :
POLITICS: ELECTIONS AND ELECTION: CAMPAIGNS FUNDING:
The Hidden Hands in Redistricting:
Corporations and Other Powerful Interests
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The Hidden Hands in Redistricting:
Corporations and Other Powerful Interests
by Olga Pierce, Jeff Larson and Lois Beckett
ProPublica
Sep. 23, 2011, 10:03 a.m.
http://www.propublica.org/article/hidden-
hands-in-redistricting-corporations-special-interests
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A shorter URL for the above link:
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http://tinyurl.com/3kuu2sa
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Their names suggest selfless dedication to democracy. Fair Districts Mass.
Protect Your Vote. The Center for a Better New Jersey. And their stated
goals are unarguable: In the partisan fight to redraw congressional
districts, states should stick to the principle of one person, one vote.
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But a ProPublica investigation has found that these groups and others are
being quietly bankrolled by corporations, unions and other special
interests. Their main interest in the once-a-decade political fight over
redistricting is not to help voters in the communities they claim to
represent but mainly to improve the prospects of their political allies or
to harm their enemies.
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The number of these purportedly independent redistricting groups is
rising, but their ties remain murky. Contributions to such groups are not
limited by campaign finance laws, and most states allow them to take
unlimited amounts of money without disclosing the source.
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Todays story is the first chapter in an in-depth examination of how
powerful players are turning to increasingly sophisticated tools and
techniques to game the redistricting process, with voters ultimately
losing.
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For special interests, theres a huge potential payoff from investing in
such efforts.
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Reshaping a map is very powerful for donors, said Spencer Kimball, a
political consultant who is executive director of Boston-based Fair
Districts Mass. Its a big opportunity to have influence at the state level
and the congressional level not one race at a time but for 10 years.
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Skillful redistricting can, of course, help create Republican or
Democratic districts, but it can also grace incumbents with virtually
guaranteed re-election or leave them with nearly no chance at all. In the
process, it can also create seats almost certain to be held by minorities
or break those same groups apart, ensuring that they have almost no voice.
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snip
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Fair Redistricting describes itself as independent, but it has much of its
leadership in common with the Freedom Foundation of Minnesota, a group
with ties to the political empire of the Koch brothers, industrialists
from Kansas whove spent millions funding conservative causes. The head of
the Freedom Foundation, Annette Meeks, told ProPublica she has no
involvement with Fair Redistricting. But both organizations tax filings
list the same address: Meeks home address.
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Fair Redistricting is registered under the name of her husband, Jack
Meeks, who is also on the board of the Freedom Foundation. He did not
respond to requests for comment.
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Who is actually paying for Fair Redistrictings lawsuit and lawyers? And
what district lines are they pushing for? The group doesnt have to say and
has so far kept its finances and plans under wraps. Annette Meeks did not
respond to questions about the groups donors or its ties to the Koch
brothers, but she said the group complies with all legal filing
requirements. But the groups public tax filings contain no information on
its contributors.
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Fair Districts Mass, which says its advocating better representation of
minorities in and around Boston, is another window into how money can move
through the system. The group describes itself as "citizen-funded." But it
also sought permission from state election officials for unlimited
corporate funding. Donations can include corporate contributions, the
groups website announces. Better yet, the site notes, we are not required
to file reports regarding donations or expenditures.
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The group says its proposed maps would lead to better representation of
Latinos and African-Americans.
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Minorities are very underrepresented in Massachusetts politics, said
Kimball, the groups executive director. Were here to change that.
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But minority groups say Fair Districts' proposed maps would not likely
help them. (See our interactive feature showing the groups maps and our
analysis.)
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I dont see a person of color getting elected in this district, if thats
the goal, said Alejandra St. Guillen, executive director of Oiste, looking
at one of the maps Fair Districts has touted as helping Latinos and
African-Americans. Oiste has been fighting for increased Latino
representation and civic participation in the state for more than a
decade.
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Even though the numbers might look as if that might be favorable to
communities of color, St. Guillen said, if you look at voting patterns, it
actually wouldnt be.
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The complete article may be read at the URL above.
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Sincerely,
David Dillard
Temple University
(215) 204 - 4584
jwne@xxxxxxxxxx
http://daviddillard.businesscard2.com
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