Minutes after state representatives were sworn-in this month, I happened across Rep. Barb Byrum, a third-term Democrat from Onondaga. Like many representatives, she seemed caught up in the moment – like a kid on her first day of school – and I asked her what her priority was for the coming year.
She didn’t pause.
“Redistricting,” she gushed. “We want to make sure it’s done fairly and openly.”
Admittedly, I was caught a little off-guard by that. It seemed to me that Democrats, who currently aren’t in power in the governor’s office, House or Senate, had as much chance of steering redistricting this year as throwing a lasso around the moon.
When it comes to redistricting in Michigan, traditionally what party is in charge – whether it’s Democrats or Republicans – have complete control over the process. The minority party generally has leave to complain afterwards to a federal or state judge about the final map. As they say, to the victor goes the spoils.
This week, I got a clearer idea of what Byrum had in mind. She led a charge to revise the joint rules governing redistricting by requiring at least six statewide hearings on a redistricting plan, and a website posting any redistricting plans and listing any contacts made to legislators or their staff regarding redistricting.
Byrum’s proposal in fact would make the process more transparent and open – not a bad idea – but House Republicans weren’t ready to change the rules: They voted down the measure. State Rep. Pete Lund, a Shelby Township Republican and chair of the Redistricting and Elections Committee, said Democrats merely wanted to change the rules after losing control of the House this year.
He pledged that committee hearings in the House on redistricting would be open to the public, as required by law.
