Viewpoint: In support of independent redistricting reform
Editor:
According to the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, recently eight newspapers, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin State Journal, Green Bay Press-Gazette, Appleton Post-Crescent, Wausau Daily Herald, La Crosse Tribune, Kenosha News, and Beloit Daily News, and a television station, WISC-TV joined a long list of reform groups in calling for public hearings on legislation that would take the task of redrawing congressional and state legislative districts after each census out of the hands of lawmakers and give it to an independent, nonpartisan redistricting authority.
They all raised the issue in recent days that legislators should stop dragging their feet and start listening to the public about needed changes to the way redistricting is handled.
Mary Lazich, the suburban Milwaukee Republican who chairs the Senate committee that has bottled up Senate Bill 163, insists there is no need for redistricting reform. That committee, along with our representatives Tom Tiffany, and Rob Swearingen, need to hear from us that we no longer want a self-serving system no matter who is in office when the redistricting occurs.
Fred Andrist, Rhinelander
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