Bipartisan Redistricting is Good for Conservationby: MattZTue Feb 03, 2009 at 15:40:42 PM EST |
 The Virginia Resdistricting Coalition joins a bipartisan group of legislators in supporting redistricting reform. The Virginia State Senate unanimously passed the Bipartisan Redistricting Reform bill yesterday. SB 926 would establish a "bipartisan redistricting commission" that would help prevent the gerrymandered districts that have polarized are elections and government in Virginia. Governor Tim Kaine held a press conference, with members of both parties and members of the Virginia Redistricting Coalition, to show support for this measure. |
| The Virginia League of Conservation Voters is a member of the Virginia Redistricting Coalition, a collection of business leaders, non-profit organizations and citizens who have been pushing for redistricting reform. Bipartisan redistricting is at the core of all other issues before the General Assembly. Polls show that a majority of Virginian's care strongly about conservation and the environment. Too often, however, it seems that the General Assembly remains embroiled in partisanship that prevents action on issues such as conservation. Redistricting reform will help ease the polarization of our government and will promote the policy innovation that is desperately needed, especially in the area of conservation.
SB 926 will now head to the House of Delegates, where it has been killed during the last few General Assembly sessions. Hopefully, the House will take a look at the bipartisan progress that has been made in the Senate where every Democrat and every Republican voted in favor of redistricting reform yesterday. It is time that we get this done for Virginia and for conservation! |