Redistricting Round-Up April 29, 2011

Updates throughout the midwest on the redistricting front as all states in the Network are engaged and moving forward in the process.

Michigan
Kyle Caldwell of the Michigan Nonprofit Association pens an article for the Detroit Free Press on the importance of transparency in the redistricting process. The Michigan Nonprofit Association is a member of Draw the Line Michigan, which is proposing that municipalities put their proposed maps on the web; the state legislature and county governments should hold public hearings; and the legislature and counties should post written justification explaining their maps. Read more at the Detroit Free Press. Also, the Morning Sun prints a letter to the editor asking for politics to be left out of redistricting. Common Cause Michigan is also taking a look at local level redistricting as they live-tweeted from an Oakland County hearing earlier this week.  Follow them on Twitter @commoncausemi

Detroit Free Press op-ed: Michigan needs an open door policy on redistricting
Morning Sun: Letter: Take a stand and keep politics out of redistricting

Indiana
Indiana   moves forward again in the redistricting process as the state   legislature has approved Congressional and state level maps. The maps   now move to Governor Mitch Daniels, who is expected to approve. Network   partner, Indiana Citizens Redistricting Commission, says that   legislatures could have moved slower and held hearings over the summer   on state level maps (only Congressional maps needed to be approved in   this session).

Indianapolis Business Journal: Indiana legislature OKs redistricting proposal
The Republic: Indiana legislature OKs plan for more Republican-friendly Indiana congressional districts


Ohio
In   Ohio, the Columbus Dispatch wrote an editorial on the need to prevent   gerrymandering once their state begins the redistricting process. Also   in the Cleveland Plain Dealer, two former elected officials voice their   support for transparency and hope that the Ohio legislature will   approach redistricting differently than in the past, and differently   than it has approached other initiatives this session.

Columbus Dispatch: Editorial: Legislative Boundaries: Common sense, not more gerrymandering, would best serve Ohio
Cleveland Plain Dealer: Accountability Lost in Redistricting

Wisconsin
Wisconsin   is currently in the midst of county level redistricting, and the Rapids Tribune takes a look at the current process and some of the population changes in Wood County, Wisconsin. Also, Dane County (which includes Madison, WI) has released their hearing schedule, meeting agendas, and resource materials.

Wisconsin Rapids Tribune: Municipal officials gear up for redistricting
Dane County Board of Supervisors: Redistricting information

Minnesota
Minnesota   held a redistricting committee meeting to discuss redistricting   principles, which will set framework for a new map. Network partner   Common Cause Minnesota tweeted updates from the hearing, including the   committee voting down an amendment on minority representation, and   reporting that House Republicans will release their map on Tuesday.  Follow Common Cause Minnesota on Twitter @commoncausemn

Illinois
Illinois   continues to host redistricting hearings across the state, and meetings this week were held in Yorkville and Macomb, with another hearing in Streamwood this weekend.

McDonoughVoice.com: Redistricting hearing held in Macomb
Morris Daily Herald: Little actually said about redistricting
Courier News: State redistricting hearing to be held Saturday