Gerry Mander (D)

WHAT THIS GUMMINT DOES           Politicians are redrawing district lines and this is a problem

The process of redrawing electoral district lines to give a political party an advantage in elections. Gerrymandering has become a big problem in states like Maryland where some neighborhoods have wound up split into as many as four different congressional districts. The paint-by-numbers congressional map could soon get a facelift due to some important court cases. Gerrymandering in Crofton Her neighbors in Anne Arundel County have had a hard time petitioning lawmakers on important issues like hospital and school funding, and in many cases the districts become so confusing that people do not know who their representatives are. Jennifer Bevan-Dangel has lived in the same house in Crofton, MD for 10 years, but in 2012 local officials redrew congressional district lines and split her community in half. "We have lived in two different congressional districts just by staying in the exact same house," Bevan-Dangel said. That line change is called gerrymandering, and it can cause a lot of problems in places like Crofton. Those wonky district lines can cause big problems in communities that find themselves divided up among multiple congressional districts. Bevan-Dangel said her neighbors in Anne Arundel County have had a hard time petitioning lawmakers on important issues like hospital and school funding, and in many cases the districts become so confusing that people do not know who their representatives are. <snip> Taking gerrymandering to court The "paint by numbers" congressional maps could be reigned in soon thanks to a slew of court cases challenging gerrymandering practices. One lawsuit headed to the U.S. federal district court of appeals in Maryland argues the state's Democratic-leaning districts violate Republican's first amendment rights. And the Supreme Court has agreed to hear a similar case out of Wisconsin where Democrats hope to prove gerrymandering is leading to a significant amount of wasted votes, violating their constitutional rights. Francois says the court will have to determine if there is a point at which officials gerrymander so blatantly "to the extent that it becomes almost anti-democratic." He added that until the court reaches a verdict on that case, other gerrymandering cases are in limbo. <snip> Gov. Larry Hogan (R-MD) and former Gov. Martin O'Malley (D-MD) have both said publicly that they would like to see independent redistricting commissions formed to examine the gerrymandering in Maryland. Hogan proposed legislation last year to create a panel, but Democrats in the state legislature have called for national or redistricting reform instead. [FULL] I live across  the street from people  represented by Maryland's only Republican?; Rep. Andy Harris (who dismissed President Trump’s proposed federal budget and backed the congressional investigation into his campaign’s ties to Russia).   I get Rep. Anthony G Brown (who tweeted: "Skipping Inauguration. @RepJohnLewis a civil rights hero). So, you might say that I am disenfranchised.