Kevin Kiley: “I rise today because democracy is under assault in my home State. California politicians, led by the Governor, are…”

“I rise today because democracy is under assault in my home State. California politicians, led by the Governor, are throwing a grenade at our Constitution in order to strip power from voters and seize it for themselves. This fraud on our electorate compels action by Congress to protect the representative form of government that citizens of every State are due. That is why today I am calling for a prompt vote on H. Res. 4889. On three separate occasions, California voters have deliberately chosen to remove politicians from the process of drawing the lines for legislative districts. Voters have empowered an independent citizens redistricting commission to set the boundaries of representation so that free and fair elections, not political manipulation, are the motive force in our democracy. This principle is so important and so vital to safeguarding democracy that the citizens commission is enshrined in our State constitution along with a number of principles to guide redistricting: Redistricting occurs once per decade after the Census. The legislature is barred from participating. The members of the citizens commission may not run for public office. Districts are to be drawn in an open process based on extensive public input. Boundaries are to be set based on neutral criteria like keeping communities together. District lines cannot be influenced by partisan considerations or drawn to favor or disfavor any incumbent or candidate.”