Friday, August 14, 2009

Population Shift Likely To Cost MA Seat in US House

The Boston Globe reports Population shift likely to cost Mass. seat in US House. "Long-term economic and demographic shifts in favor of warmer climates with less expensive housing are to blame for the state’s slower growth, and thus the loss of a congressional district, according to estimates. Massachusetts’ population grew by just 2.3 percent from 2000 to 2008, compared with 8 percent nationally, a disparity that is expected to continue next year and beyond."

"The most likely outcome of redistricting would be to place two incumbents in the same district, forcing them to run against each other. In many states a nonpartisan board handles redistricting, but in Massachusetts the Legislature draws the borders and has a long history of gerrymandering."

They of course failed to mention that the word gerrymandering was coined for the actions of a Massachusetts governor in 1812, so yeah there's a "long history of gerrymandering".

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