The proposed amendment would move legislative redistricting from the Massachusetts legislature to an independent redistricting commission. District lines for state representatives, senators, governor's councillors, and members of Congress would be determined by an Independent Redistricting Commission rather than the State Legislature.

Supporters of this proposal are now gathering signatures for a ballot initiative (to be on the 2006 election ballot)   

Arguing support for the measure will be Pam Wilmot, Executive Director of Common Cause Massachusetts.  Common Cause is a non-partisan citizen's organization whose goal is to ensure open, honest, accountable and effective government at the federal, state, and local levels. Pam is a graduate of Brown University, Northeastern University School of Law, and Smith College School for Social Work.  Pam has also worked for Rhode Island and Mass PIRG, and the Massachusetts and Rhode Island Bottle Bill campaigns, Connecticut Citizens Action Group, and the Wisconsin Citizens Utility Board.  Her work led to the passage of the Massachusetts Act for Accountable Politics, that lowered campaign contribution limits and increased campaign disclosure in Massachusetts in 1994, the Rhode Island Used Car Lemon Law, and legislation limiting the number of days banks can “hold” checks before clearing them for depositor’s use.  .

Opposing this proposal will be Jeff Wice, who currently serves on the Redistricting Reform Project, National Committee for an Effective Congress; Counsel, National Association of Jewish Legislators;  and Government Relations consultant to Chabad Lubavitch movement.  He has served as staff chair, Redistricting Committee, National Conference of State Legislatures; Counsel to the Massachusetts State Senate Redistricting Committee in 2001-2003; Joint Massachusetts House and Senate Redistricting Committee 1991-1993; redistricting counsel to the Democratic National Committee for the 1980, 1990s, and 2000s.  He has also served as Counsel to President Clinton's appointees, on the US Census2000 Monitoring Board, and as Adjunct Professor at Touro Law School, New York.

Come and listen to the presentations and be prepared to discuss this issue and advise JALSA as to whether JALSA should support or oppose this ballot initiative. It is helpful if you can RSVP for October 27 so that we order sufficient food: office@jalsa.org or call the JALSA office 617-227-3000.

CLSA is open to all who care about supporting progressive public policy. Come join our weekly gathering of people from a variety of professions (lawyers, doctors, teachers, accountants, environmentalists, health professionals, non-profit administrators, and others) who share their talents and perspectives with JALSA in helping to plan our "law" and "social justice" responses to today's most pressing issues.