Shame on Pelosi

The San Diego Union-Tribune

Redistricting fix on brink because of speaker

When Nancy Pelosi took over as House speaker earlier this year, many California political insiders exulted; surely the veteran San Francisco Democrat's new clout would benefit her home state any number of ways. Instead, Pelosi's most notable impact could be a negative one. She has emerged as the single biggest obstacle to the most desperately needed reform in state politics: fixing an undemocratic redistricting system that promotes the election of ideologues uninterested in compromise.

At Pelosi's urging, Senate President Don Perata is fighting to limit a proposed redistricting reform ballot initiative to state Senate and Assembly districts. She wants California's congressional incumbents to continue to be able to draw up their own districts after the 2010 census, just as they did after the 2000 census. Her sole motive: preserving the 34 safely Democratic seats in California's 53-member House delegation.

Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez and Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines say it's time to bring sanity back to redistricting and competition back to California's elections – both in the Legislature and Congress. We agree – and note that it is impossible to square Pelosi's fight to preserve an electoral system worthy of Pyongyang with her famous promise to be an exemplar of honesty, ethics and openness.

Because of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's vow to oppose a February initiative weakening legislative term limits unless a redistricting measure is also on the ballot, reform advocates finally have have some leverage. That leverage will disappear if the Legislature adjourns this week without endorsing a redistricting fix. Who wants the term-limits change most of all? Perata.

So, c'mon, Don: Do the right thing for the wrong reason. Tell Pelosi to take a hike.