Mississippi GOP responds to Speaker Billy McCoy’s newspaper column

JACKSON (Monday, Feb. 28, 2011) – Following House Speaker Billy McCoy’s newspaper column Sunday on legislative redistricting (click here or here to read it in full), the Mississippi Republican Party was quick to fire back with a response today.

The statement, from state GOP Chairman Arnie Hederman, said the Mississippi Republican Party is pleased that the speaker is endorsing the value of keeping as many precincts intact as possible, respecting historic boundaries and following the guidelines of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

That’s great. McCoy, who is a Democrat, has always emphasized the points he made in his Sunday column. We urge you to read the speaker’s column for yourself – and we are sure once you do that you’ll appreciate his stand on legislative redistricting. Simply put, McCoy’s comments should not surprise anyone.

The Clarion-Ledger: Showtime near on redistricting

JACKSON (Monday, Feb. 28, 2011) – When will the Mississippi Legislature actually consider plans to redraw the state House and Senate districts? Well, a story in the today’s edition of The Clarion-Ledger quotes state Sen. Terry Burton as saying lawmakers could consider the issue as early as Thursday.

Or, Burton – who co-chairs the Standing Joint Legislative Committee on Legislative Reapportionment – said the issue could be pushed back to next week. Either way, it’s coming. And it’s coming soon. Here’s a little of what the story reports:

The new state legislative maps will have to reflect growth in northwest Mississippi around DeSoto County, losses in the Delta and in the eastern-central part of the state around Noxubee and Kemper counties, Burton said.

State House members to consider fair redistricting plan, set stage for 2011 elections

HOUSE SPEAKER BILLY McCOY

By BILLY McCOY

JACKSON (Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011) – In the next few days, state House members are expected to consider one of the most important proposals we will vote on during the 2011 Legislature: a plan to redraw legislative districts for the next 10 years.

To some, this may seem dull and obscure. But I assure you that’s far from the truth because in the end we will safeguard one of the most important principles of our representative democracy – one person, one vote.

Lawmakers redraw legislative districts every 10 years. We will use figures from the 2010 Census to adjust district boundaries and ensure each one has about the same number of people

The Daily Journal: Leaders expect redistricting vote soon

JACKSON (Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011) – Legislative redistricting continues to draw news coverage. The latest is a story that appeared today in The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal.

The piece offers a quick look at some of the changes in North Mississippi districts and the comments from state Rep. Tommy Reynolds and state Sen. Terry Burton – the two lawmakers leading the redistricting efforts in the House and Senate – that a vote could happen as early as this week.

AP: New Jersey redistricting: ‘Packing’ and ‘cracking’ at redistricting center

JACKSON (Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011) – Here is an interesting story from The Associated Press, taking a look at legislative redistricting in New Jersey where, the AP reports, “the politics of race is rising up as minority groups demand that their lawmakers look more like the communities they represent.”

Current state House districts, as approved in 2002 redistricting

2002 House Redistricting Map

JACKSON (Saturday, Feb. 26, 2011) – As we wait for the state House to consider a new legislative redistricting plan, here is a look at the 2002 plan that we now operate under. You can click here to download a detailed pdf version of the 2002 House district map.

Then, once you have the map in your possession, compare it with the new one after it clears the full state House.

The Sun Herald: Coast appears unlikely to lose any House seats

JACKSON (Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2011) – It's been news for a while, now. As a matter of fact, state Rep. Diane Peranich of Pass Christian even mentioned it in an interview with WLOX-TV in Biloxi that was broadcast on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2011.

Now, The Sun Herald finally picked up on it. In a story filed for the Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2011, edition of The Sun Herald, the newspaper reported thast the Coast will keep all of its districts in a proposed House redistricting plan. In other words, the Coast will not lose any seats.

Clarion-Ledger looks at legislative redistricting

JACKSON (Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011) – The Clarion-Ledger filed an interesting report on legislative redistricting on Tuesday, saying that lawmakers are expected to consider plans for the House and Senate possibly next week. Here is what the Ledger reported:

State lawmakers charged with crafting Mississippi’s new legislative districts will have plans up for review on the House and Senate floors next week, if all goes according to plan.