Urge Speaker Rosenberger to Pass Congressional Redistricting
House Speaker Rosenberger
Ohio voters sent a loud message on Election Day 2015. More than 71% of Ohio voters supported a new bipartisan system to draw state legislative district lines. Issue 1 tackled gerrymandering at the Statehouse and won in ALL 88 counties.
We need Congressional redistricting reform now. But right after the election, Ohio House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger put plans to extend the state legislative map-making reforms to Congress on the back burner. The Speaker made his opposition very clear – he suggested we wait and see how the state reforms play out. Since map-making only happens every ten years, we would have to wait 17 years for fair Congressional district lines.
The state legislature does not have to wait to pass congressional redistricting reform. It could act now by passing similar legislation that has already been introduced. The legislature can put Congressional redistricting reform before the voters if passed by 60% of the members of both chambers.
Urge Ohio House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger to fix gerrymandering of Congressional districts and not stand in the way of more robust, fair elections.
Here is what you can do right now to make your voice heard:
1. Sign our petition asking House Speaker Rosenberger to pass Congressional redistricting reform legislation.
2. Call House Speaker Rosenberger and ask him to pass Congressional redistricting reform legislation. Click here to view a sample script.
Thank you for fighting for fair districts and fair elections!
Sponsored by
To:
House Speaker Rosenberger
From:
[Your Name]
Dear Speaker Rosenberger,
On Election Day 2015, more than 71% of Ohio voters supported a new bipartisan system to draw state legislative district lines. I respectfully request that the legislature now take up Congressional redistricting reform. What’s good enough for the Statehouse, should be good enough for Congress.
As you are aware, Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission (OCMC) has been discussing redistricting reform since July 2013. Earlier this month, the OCMC Legislative and Executive Branch Committee appeared poised to vote on a Congressional redistricting reform proposal similar to the one passed in November. Instead of holding the scheduled vote, Chair Fred Mills proposed establishing a four-member subcommittee to negotiate some last minute sticking points. Subcommittee recommendations are due within six weeks.
The state legislature does not have to wait on this recommendation. It could act now by passing similar legislation that has already been introduced or moving the OCMC committee’s proposal as a new piece of legislation. The legislature can put congressional redistricting reform before the voters if passed by 60% of the members of both chambers.
It’s time to stop gerrymandering our Congressional districts and not stand in the way of more robust, fair elections. Seventeen years for fair Congressional district lines is simply too long.