California, no Redistrict for You

After the State Senate OK'd a citizen-based redistricting plan, the State Assembly scuttled it, meaning it won't appear on the 2006 ballot. I don't know if this helps or hurts Arnold Schwarzenegger, but I think it's a mistake, as I support rational redistricting reform (not the confusing and prelude-to-a-disaster redistricting measure that was on the ballot last year). I do think that you should have to wait at least 2 years, if not longer, once your ballot measure has been defeated to put it before voters again. A parental notification law is on the ballot again in November, 12 months after its defeat in the special election. This is merely a callow attempt to drive up hard-right turnout for an initiative that's already been beaten multiple times.

It is interesting that it was Assembly Republicans who fought to keep redistricting off the ballot for 2006, preferring to wait two years. That kind of obstructionism would hurt Arnold if anyone thought he was a Republican anymore. But then again, who knows who he is?