Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Congressman Reid Ribble: "Representatives, through the gerrymandering process and redistricting, are picking their voters."


Press Release
July 24, 2013



CONTACT:
Jay Heck – 608/256-2686







Congressman Reid Ribble: "Representatives, through the gerrymandering process and redistricting, are picking their voters."

Wisconsin 8th District Congressman Reid Ribble (R-Sherwood) spoke the truth earlier this week about the need for non-partisan redistricting reform in this state for 2021. In a joint interview with Democratic U.S. Representative Jim Cooper of Tennessee, Ribble said this, in an exchange with National Public Radio host Michel Martin:

MARTIN: You know, it's curious that the public expresses such dissatisfaction with the workings of Congress, and yet they keep reelecting you all.

RIBBLE: That speaks to gerrymandering of districts. I mean, you talk about the political dysfunction, if you're coming from a district that's 80 percent Republican or 80 percent Democrat, your big problem is whether you're going to be primaried or not. The very nature pushes you to the perimeter of the political spectrum, just by virtue of the people you're giving voice to. I think the American people have a misperception of elections. We're at a place now in this country where voters are not picking their representatives anymore. Representatives, through the gerrymandering process and redistricting, are picking their voters.

To hear the complete interview, go here.

To read more about Congressman Ribble's incredibly sensible comments, go here.

Now, if you haven't done so yet, please contact both your State Senator and your State Senator and tell them to co-sponsor and support bipartisan redistricting reform legislation -- Senate Bill 163 and Assembly Bill 185. This is the most important political reform needed for Wisconsin and the nation at this time.

For inspiration, read this fantastic editorial that appeared in last Sunday's Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

We are gaining momentum and public attention on this issue. Let's keep it moving!

Now please get inspired -- contact your state legislators and let's make this happen!

__________________________________________

Jay Heck, Executive Director
Common Cause in Wisconsin
152 W. Johnson St., Suite 212
Madison, WI 53703

608/256-2686


2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Everywhere I look bureaucrats can be bought & sold along political lines in government.
With that in mind what would be the fix?

Common Cause in Wisconsin said...

The "fix" is a non-partisan redistricting process that would make legislators far more responsive and accountable to their constituents because they would actually have to engage in competitive elections.

And we can do this!