Transcripts For CSPAN Rally To End Partisan Gerrymandering 20171004

Thank you all for coming out. My name is joann and i am the for common cause maryland. Im not sure how many of you are familiar with common cause but we are a nonpartisan Grassroots Organization dedicated to upholding the core values of american democracy. Chapters,er 30 state over one million members threat the country. Common clauses one of three groups helping todays event. I also want to give a special thank you to all the groups who took different actions like filing amicus reefs and supporting the movements in a number of ways. A special thank you to all the volunteers who came out early and are hoping out today. With common cause maryland, to one of the two most gerrymandered in the country. The worst in the nation for how we draw our congressional and district lines. We cannot rely on elected officials to fix the system. It is time for the Supreme Court to create ground rules that based safeguard our right to vote. Today we are joined by a number of speakers who are going to highlight the importance of todays event. In support of the movement and this rally. Before we begin i want to make sure that if anybody here is htag. Ng to use our has please join me in welcoming our first speaker, she is our president for Common Cause National chapter. [applause] is a challenge getting up. Nice to meet with all of you and i am proud to center with many who have joined together to fight back. Elected officials and state legislators across country from citizenties as well as organizations to talk about the manipulation of our elections for partisan advantage and the negative impact that has on our democracy. Every eligible american wants to have a voice and know that their vote counts in determining who gets elected. Policies are passed by congress and state legislature. They determine the future of our families and immunities. Politicians who manipulate the voting maps are placing their partys power above the people. They so the scenes of cynicism and cause too Many Americans to tune out of politics because it escalates polarization that rewards political dysfunction and emboldens extremes on both sides of the aisle. It provides little to no incentive for the public to engage. We are here to show the Supreme Court that the public does care about these issues. It may seem like wonky issues but it has a real impact on peoples lives. Voters recognize that highly gerrymandered legislatures are moving more extreme agendas. Thatafe seats gerrymandering creates. We have worked with the league of conservation voters, the National Education association, and the league of women voters in wisconsin to show that partisan gerrymandering results in the adoption of policies that are more paulison and extreme partisan and extreme than wisconsin. In wisconsin there is a historic riding clean government. Several years ago, wisconsinites at in place a independent Government Accountability board. This board was set to oversee and enforce compliance with ethics, Campaign Finance, and election laws. The legislature dismantled the independent Government Accountability board. Aey did it because they want weaker partisan agency in control. They did not want anybody to be investigating their actions. That was an investigation the accountability board put in place with scott walker and specialinterest money flowing into recall elections. They dont want accountability and they dont want enforcement of clean government rules. For k12 andunding public universities being very important to wisconsin citizens. Democrats, republicans, independents support that. The legislature slashed fundings for those programs. We also see strong bipartisan support for conversation come conservation. What did the legislature do . They slashed those programs. In North Carolina, another state where we see huge partisan gerrymander in place, we saw the Republican Legislature then transgender bathrooms. They did not move. The ncaa, nba allstar game, concert venues, and other businesses saying we are not going to North Carolina, business suffered and the state lost millions of dollars. Did the Republican Legislature act . No. They are in safe districts and they dont care what the people think. We also saw North Carolina put in place a power grab in terms of a terrible voting measure that would discriminatory laws on the books including slashing early voting, discriminatory butter id in order to ensure partisan advantage. The need for districts is not just a problem in red states. We heard from joanne, this is a problem in blue states like maryland. That is why we have a bipartisan set of legislators, on fortunate your, john mccain, Ohio Governor john kasich joining democrats like Sheldon Whitehouse and Tammy Baldwin in wisconsin to support and and to partisan gerrymandering. The American People understand how politicians in both parties are stacking the deck against people. As a result we are seeing an unprecedented groundswell of support for the end to partisan gerrymandering. We are seeing reforms moving in states and people gathering at events like this. Today, leadersna from the hbcus student alliance, the historically black college and universities, are marching through the largest hbcus in North Carolina. The home of the aggies. They are marching on a street that literally divides the cameras campus. On the left is the 13th Congressional District and on the right is the sixth. Why was that gerrymander put in place . Ands 10,000 black students that is a powerful voting block. They divided them right down the center and we have the impact of this. It cannot just be about policies an also directly affect assault on the rights of black and africanamerican students in North Carolina. The Supreme Court could end gerrymandering as we know it in this case. Although the case is before the Supreme Court and dealing specifically with state legislative districts in wisconsin, if the Court Affirms the Lower Court Ruling in wisconsin, it will be of establishing the principle that partisan politicians and special interests can no longer rate the system rig the system by many leading voting maps. The action from the Supreme Court could reduce legislation and set a clear standard that makes it clear that as they are drawing maps, here is a line you cannot cross. In america, no liberty is more fundamental than the right to freely choose representatives through voting. When politicians manipulate the rules and choose their voters instead, it leads to dysfunction and legislative bodies do not care about their constituents. It is time to end this practice. Thank you very much. [applause] we are going to go into a few other camps. Ho, one is hey hey, ho gerrymandering has to go. Hey hey, ho ho, gerrymandering has got to go. We are tired of your tampering, stop your gerrymandering. We are tired of your tampering, stop your gerrymandering. Please join me in welcoming our next speaker, representative swazi. From new yorks third Congressional District. [applause] ho,ey hey, go ho gerrymandering has got to go. Ho, gerrymandering has got to go. I am toms was he from new yorks third Congressional District. The partisan divide in our country today is mainly caused by partisan gerrymandering. Everybody is sick of politics, politicians, the fingerpointing , people not getting things done. Why is it happening . In the house of representatives 400e are 435 seats of which 400 are safe seats which guaranteed if youre a republican youre going to win the election. If youre an a democratic seat, guaranteed you will win reelection in a democratic seat. You cant lose the general election. If you cant lose the general election the only way you can lose is if you lose a primary. Very few people vote in a primary. Less than 10 of people vote in a primary. To the moreen extremes of the party. Far left democrats, far right republicans. If you are a compass person who cant lose and you want to keep one wing happy you are going to try to please that wing of your party. Democrats trying to please the left, republicans trying to please the rights. In the middle you will get squashed like a bug. That is the problem going on in our country. All these safe seats result in politicians not pandering to the people, not pandering to the general public, they pander to the base of their party. We must get rid of partisan gerrymandering in america. To force elected officials to be subject to the only thing that makes them a pursue work. Competition. People battling over ideas. I have a better idea than you. I have a better way of doing it more effectively. Cheaper. Of the more people. I have a better way of doing it. That competition only happens in competitive seats. In our country today we do not have competitive seats. The reason we dont have competitive seats is because of partisan gerrymandering. This lawsuit today, this case being argued today, if the Supreme Court decides as we hope that they do, that partisan gerrymandering is illegal, it and change the partisanship force americans to Work Together with each other to get things done on the half of the people they serve. I want to thank the different groups appear today to put so much time. It is a long journey to get from where this all started in wisconsin to this lawsuit with all these people organized like this. Dont underestimate how powerful you are by bringing this to the public attention. Please continue trying to educate people while partisan gerrymandering is destroying our country and making it overly partisan. Together we connect a difference but now we need to Supreme Court to help. Hey hey, ho gerrymandering has got to go thank you, everybody. Hey hey, ho ho, partisan gerrymandering has to go hey hey, ho ho, partisan gerrymandering has to go when politicians choose, the voeters always lose when politicians choose, the voters always lose please join me in welcoming congressman jolly, representing district one. Jolly how did that last one go since everybody is chanting . When politicians choose, the voters always lose. Is this a great day or what . I am proud to be setting here with a lot of organizations that are looking to end political gerrymandering but i have a message i am a republican. [laughter] thank you. I have the opportunity to serve in the house of representatives, representing one of the most competitive districts in the country. I was elected twice as a republican that obama had won twice. I will stand here today and tell you if you want to fix gridlock, and any conversation of term limits, all we need are competitive districts. Electoral competitive districts would force congress to find a way to Work Together. Challenges jor the first being political gerrymandering, the third being Campaign Finance reform. Thecourt today has opportunity to address political gerrymandering. At the end of the day, the court has already said they have jurisdiction to do that in the arizona case and now it is time to recognize that are limits they can put on political gerrymandering. It is what madison asked for in federalist x where he said the point and purpose of the house is due and excessive factions. We are governed today in a congress that is defined by excessive factions, we know. The people that loser all of us. The people that loser people asking for commonsense policies to address the concerns of the American People. Approach this issue as if it is punishment for elected officials or punishment for candidates, or punishment for Political Parties. This is not punishment, this is opportunity. Both parties will be made stronger if this court ends political gerrymandering. Candidates will be stronger if this court ends political gerrymandering because candidates will have to speak not only to their partisan interests, their base, but also the third of Party Affiliates and those disenfranchised by the major parties. Also voters that perhaps wish to come over and support a candidate. All candidates will be made stronger. I saw a limited example of this and it is not pressing than today. We are coming off of a terrible disaster in nevada, a national tragedy. We also know that congress will not do a single thing about it. [booing] they are not because of how Congressional Districts occur. I represented a district in florida not far from the pulse nightclub. Theme here last night while republicans were having a sitting and i brokered a compromise. I believe we had to vote for it. Morning saidin the that makes too much sense. Why will it not pass . I will tell you why. A bunch of younger, more centrist members reached a consensus on no fly, bono buy. Our group said not a chance because of the special base and money. The other side said not a chance. We are not working with jolly because he got redrawn into the district and it is ours. That is the breakdown of partisan gerrymandering in the house. When a nation cries out for supporters, this body does nothing. This court can change it. This court can fix that. The bottom line is there is absolutely zero conviction for bipartisanship in most of the districts in super majority districts. There is no reward for it. At the end of the day, you represent your party, your primary voters which constitutes minorities and majority. We the people are not governed by general election voters, we are governed by primary voters. This court has it opportunity in this case to say yes, we are going to accept jurisdiction to protect democracy. Yes, we are going to say there is a standard. Lets get it done. Is this a great day or what . Come on. [cheering] what do we want . representation join me in welcoming our next speaker, Rachel Brewer of represent. Us. Brewer my name is rachel and i have the honor to represent us and all of the volunteers that make it worthwhile. Every day, we work to fix the corrupt politicals system. A corrupt political system is a broken political system. When institutions designed to protect the Public Interest corrode and fail, when loopholes allow those in power to take advantage at our expense, that is corruption. Partisan gerrymandering is corruption in its simplest form. So thatming the system party in power can keep it for years to come. This abuse of power by our government rigs the system against voters of all parties and makes representation a very abstract concept. I know i am not the only one who is fed up with a system designed to protect people in positions of power will matter the cost. With all of you here today, i am ready and willing to rise up and to fight back. [applause] together, we can demand an end to partisan gerrymandering and we can create a government that we deserve, one that represents the people and all of our voices. The court defines partisan gerrymandering as the drawing of legislative district lines to subordinate adherence to one Political Party and rival party power. Let me break it down to you. In the worst of, gerrymandering is an abuse of power that reveals a fundamental distrust of voters. Not only does it take away power from the people that it weakens the power of our actual votes and it weakens our faith in our government. It serves the selfinterest of the Political Parties and political system all that the expense of the public good. We deserve more. Today for the first time in nearly 15 years, the Supreme Court has the chance to end corrupt partisan gerrymandering. Were all here about to witness loudry and we need to show enough for the courts to hear us, our politicians to hear us, for history to hear us. We have a chance to see this unjust practice come to an end. We might see this country take a giant step forward towards fixing a corrupt political system and building a future that puts people first. For everyone that is here today, you are not alone in this fight. Earlier this month, we heard from over 25,000 represent. Us members from red and blue states alike to all support us today and all support this fight to end partisan gerrymandering. With each and every one of you here today, i came here with a chance to great real and lasting change. Just like you, i will not stop fighting until we can create a government where every vote and every voice matter. We are going to try changing one more time. It will be new and a little different. When i say rise up. I want all of you to shout fight back. I want you to shout it for everyone who could not be here today. I want you to shout for the visionaries who came before us, for the reformers fighting alongside us, and the government that we will create together. I want you to shout like your future and your country depend on it, because they do. So, rise up fight back rise up fight back thank you. [applause] we are history we are history we are history we are history we are history please join me in welcoming our next speaker, representative blumenauer from oregon. [applause] rep. Blumenauer thank you for being here today on what i hope will be a historic occasion. 15 years ago, i had an oped with my friend and colleague republican jim leach from iowa about the outrage that happened after the 2002 redistricting process in the elections. We pointed out that there were more competitive races in iowa with five members of congress than in new york, illinois, california and florida combined. Because of the surgical precision that we saw from political insiders in both parties, in many cases they were involved with incumbent protection, not just partisan gain. Frankly, i had no idea that it would get as bad as it has gotten. It has been carried on to a whole new level of intensity and precision due to survey research, computers, and some really vicious political infighting. As you heard, this threatens everybody. It corrodes the political process and disenfranchises millions and millions of americans whose votes dont count for congress. I hope that youre being here today, part of an effort to put the focus on this insidious practice, then we can raise the profile. If we get a good decision out of Supreme Court, that is only half the job, because what we need is to take the politicians out of the role of selecting their voters and put voters back in the role of selecting politicians. There was a reason that iowa had more competitive congressional races than california and new york and illinois and florida combined. Its because iowa had an independent Redistricting Commission. We need to have Redistricting Commissions across the country. Every place where there is an initiative process, we need to be involved with initiatives to be able to put voters back in charge like they tried to do in florida, like they have done in arizona. Ultimately, i think we ought to have a national, Nonpartisan Redistricting Commission that puts everybody on equal footing and takes the politics out. Unless and until we do that, congress will continue to fall short and americans are going to continue to be shortchanged. Thank you very much. [applause] equal districts under law equal districts under law equal districts under law equal districts under law please join me in recognizing our next speaker from votevets. We have executive director will fischer. Will good morning, everybody. As mentioned in my introduction, my name is will fischer. Im an iraq war veteran, i am a United States marine, and i believe in free and Fair Elections and fair maps for everybody. Now, there was Martin Luther king famously asked a question one time what is the point of being able to sit at the lunch counter if you cannot afford a hamburger . I think the same sentiment holds true for this conversation about voting because what is the point of having the right to vote at the same time that right is being heralded as existing at the very same time we are seeing individuals become disenfranchised. We are seeing voices silenced through the purging of voter laws, through the strengthening of voter id laws, and yes, through partisan gerrymandering and these crazy drawn maps. When i swore when i was a young man, 18 years old, i joined the marines. It was impeccable timing. It was in may of 2001. I raised my right hand and i swore to uphold and protect and defend the constitution of the United States of america. I took that oath very seriously. As a recruit, i took that oath very seriously when i was a young man and i take that oath very seriously today as a veteran. It is for that reason that i stand here today, because of that oath i took, because my faith and belief in the ideals of america that i stand shoulder to shoulder and in solidarity with all of those behind the and hundreds of thousands of veterans around the country and with the organization that i am with, to stand here in unison to say we are committed to defending those ideals that we fought for and that we continue to fight for. I would not dare go out on a limb and try to predict the outcome of todays election, but i promise that no matter what the outcome is, everything i have now just said is going to remain just as true tomorrow as it is right now. And i thank you all so very, very much. [applause] hey hey, ho ho, partisan gerrymandering has to go hey hey, ho ho, partisan gerrymandering has to go hey hey, ho ho, partisan gerrymandering has to go please join me in welcoming the president and executive director of Asian Americans advancing justice, john c. Yang. [applause] john good morning, everyone. My name is john c. Yang. I am the president and executive director of Asian Americans advancing justice. Our mission is to advance the civil and human rights of Asian Americans and to promote and build a fair and just society for all. We are part of a National Affiliation with five other partners in atlanta, chicago, San Francisco and los angeles. We joined an amicus brief of this morning as part of an effort to establish reasonable standards for redistricting and oppose gerrymandering. We did this because community of color have much to lose with the gerrymandering that is happening right now. Asianamericans represent the fastestgrowing population in the United States right now. Over the past seven years, one quarter of the population growth in the u. S. Is based on Asian Americans. Unfortunately, our representation in federal legislatures and state legislatures does not reflect our current demographics. Unfortunately, this is true of many, many and all communities of color. The truth is this what happens is our communities get split apart into different districts to our votes get diluted. Our votes do not end up counting the same so our voices are not heard. Instead of being talked to, instead of having a discussion with us, we are being talked at. That is not democracy. That is not what our nation is founded on. That is why we stand in solidarity with everyone in establishing reasonable redistricting standards. The truth is we need to have conversations across all lines. By having safe districts, that is not happening. Instead of having a general election where ideas are discussed, where ideas are debated, we are only talking to our ideological base. And for a community of color, we get ignored. That is why we need to have some mechanism to bring everyone together. To have real conversation, to have conversations between communities of color. To have conversations between different religions, different ethnicities, different people of sexual orientation. We need to have these conversations in a reasonable manner. Unless we have reasonable redistricting standards, this will not happen. What we need is not to have politicians try to enrich and maintain their status. What we need is reasonable standards Going Forward until the 2020 census and the redistricting plans that will happen thereafter. Thank you. [applause] show me what democracy looks like this is what democracy looks like show me what democracy looks like this is what democracy looks like showing what democracy looks like this is what democracy looks like please join me in welcoming our next speaker, representative kildee, of michigans district five. Rep. Kildee thank you all very much and thank you for being here. I am a member of congress and i represent flint, michigan. This is a community that knows something about the consequences of having their democratic rights taken away from them. That is really what this argument is about. The democratic rights of americans. What we have in my home state is a set of maps that distorts public sentiment. Michigan is one of those purple states and we know there are always going to be in play, those states like michigan, wisconsin, pennsylvania, ohio. Each one of them have had their democratic rights distorted, individuals in those states, their democratic rights distorted by maps that emphasize one ideology or one party and deemphasizes another. That is not democracy. People often wonder why cant congress act on the Big Questions that we face as a country . Why cant we get common sense bill to deal with Immigration Reform . Because the congress is not a reflection of the body politic, the congress is not a reflection of public sentiment. Why cant we get common sense gun safety legislation that most americans support . Because congress does not represent the views of the American People. They have been distorted by maps that are intended to emphasize a particular ideology, in particular point of view, particular party. That is wrong and it has to stop and it has to stop now if we are going to be a democracy. We have to have a government that represents the broad views of the American People. And when in my state we have this 5050 state that has nine republicans and five democrats in that house of representatives, that has a state legislature with 63 republicans out of just over 100 that has a state senate a purple state with 27 republicans and 11 democrats, no wonder the Big Questions we face cannot get answered in a way consistent with the wishes come of the feelings, the sentiments, the needs of the American People. It is because our maps, our gerrymandering is a carnival image of the body politic. It emphasizes some aspects and deemphasizes others. This is wrong. This is wrong. This is wrong. This is wrong. And it has to end now. And since the legislature, the legislators that benefit from the maps are the ones that draw them, of this is the building we have to turn to to have our rights restored. We are calling on this court, democrats and republicans coming together to restore that democratic principle that is the foundation of this country. We all deserve equal representation and unless this court acts, we may not have that. Thank you for your voices, thank you for being here. Lets keep up this fight. Thank you all. [applause] equal districts under law equal districts under law equal districts under law equal districts under law equal districts under law please join me in welcoming our next speaker. We have representative lowenthal from californias Congressional District 47. Rep. Lowenthal thank you, everyone for being here. Before we actually begin, i want to i have been stunned and really want to pray and have in the thoughts of all of those who survived, all of those that were traumatized and unfortunately, those that passed away in the horrors that took place in las vegas. It was just terrible. That is another issue that we as the Congress Need to deal with and that is gun safety. First i want to thank a person that is inside today and that is governor Arnold Schwarzenegger from california. The governor led the battle to put on an independent Redistricting Commission as an initiative for the people of california to vote on. It was overwhelmingly passed and california has an independent Redistricting Commission. A little bit about myself i am a democrat in a very blue state. I participate as a new member in the California Assembly in 2001 in the redistricting that took place. I was so appalled by the fact that we were creating districts, even in the blue state, that represented protection of the incumbency. It was incumbency protection rather than trying to respond to communities of interest. I then joined in 2002 a small group of bipartisan members. I took the lead in introducing an independent Redistricting Commission in california in 2003. That is why this is a long battle. That was almost 15 years ago that we started that. At that time, i cannot even get a second in the california legislature. Finally by 2005 and 2006, i was able to move now in the senate by two thirds vote an independent Redistricting Commission. Unfortunately like what happens here, the bill was never taken up in the California Assembly after we had it ready to go on the ballot. Then, governor schwarzenegger led to have it put on by petition and the overwhelming number of people in california supported an independent commission. When i was elected to the congress in 2012, i realized that we were not going to create a system where people trusted government any longer unless we did independent commissions throughout the nation. My first bill was let the people draw the lines in 2013 which was to create a mandate that we would have independent redistricting throughout the nation. That bill was never heard in the congress, like a lot of other bills. In 2015, a number of my colleagues and myself, i took the leadership in making sure we did a bipartisan amicus brief to support the arizona independent Redistricting Commission. When that case in the Arizona State legislature sued the arizona Redistricting Commission, saying it was not legal to have independent Redistricting Commission, which would have impacted my state also and a number of other states. Fortunately, this Supreme Court said no, independent Redistricting Commissions are legal under the constitution and that it was their opinion to uphold and support them. Then after that, we are seeing today and i helped to try to lead the amicus brief also to get republicans and democrats to support a brief that says gerrymandering, excessive partisanship is unconstitutional and we stood up. We are never going to reestablish support for our government if our representatives do not represent the will of the people and the will of the Political Parties. Today is a critical day for the courts to take up. This is probably the most important gerrymandering case that has ever been decided by the u. S. Supreme court. Im proud to be here to support the courts attempt to really define what is excessive redistricting, excessive partisanship. How do we measure it and how do we ensure in the elections coming up that we dont have partisan gerrymandering and that we outlaw gerrymandering. That is what were all here for. This court stands for democracy. We are here to promote and support democracy which is being ripped away by the american public. This is a critical day and i think all of you for being here to show support. Lets return democracy to the people and take it out of the hands of the Political Parties. Thank you, everyone. [applause] what do we want . Representation. When do we want it . Now. What do we want . Representation. When do we want it . Now. What do we want . Representation. When do we want it . Now. Please join me in welcoming our next speaker. We have chief executive officer of the league of women voters, wylecia wiggs harris. [applause] wylecia good morning, everyone. The league of women voters is in the house for this important issue. What an important day it is today for our democracy. Behind us in the highest court in the land, nine men and women are eagerly listening to arguments about an issue that has plagued our election system for far too long gerrymandering. It is a big word, but its meaning as has been noted is quite simple. This is the process of politicians unfairly drying electoral maps to benefit themselves and their Political Parties, not the voters. The result a dysfunction, mistrust and Public Policies that do not represent the will of the people. In wisconsin, in North Carolina, in ohio, in pennsylvania and all across the country, there is some real crazy electoral maps. Wouldnt you agree . Yes. Wylecia districts that dont make sense that cross school districts, that breakup communities, and for what . So that politicians pick their electorate, not voters deciding who should represent them . It is high time we take charge of this and put an end to partisan gerrymandering and it can be done. In california, the league of women voters was part of a successful statewide referendum that ended gerrymandering of political districts. As already noted, we formed a coalition across the political spectrum. The business sector, labor organizations, and concerned members of the community all came together to create a valid measure. The intent to be fair to voters. That is what voters wanted, more equality in the system. So working across party lines, we formed an independent commission that redrew the electoral map in california and it restored the public trust. To districts were drawn for the voters, not for the special interests or for any particular Political Party. Around the country and other states, both parties have taken advantage of partisan gerrymandering when they are in power. In maryland, democrats have openly admitted to drawing district lines to benefit their own party and that has always been part of the game. The party in charge controls the map. But today is the beginning of the end. [applause] no, lets do that again. Today is the beginning of the end. [applause] as i stand here speaking to you, those nine justices are listening to arguments that would impact the boundaries that are drawn in the near future. We know that partisan gerrymandering is wrong and has even been deemed unconstitutional. But until now, there has not been a test. It is up to the justices to set a standard to determine when partisan gerrymandering is so extreme that it violates the constitution. Inside that building behind us, real voters are making their case that partisan gerrymandering has denied them a voice in their state selection. Those brave voters are not alone. Extreme partisanship is harmful to voters across the country and it is harmful to our democracy. This case will literally shake the face of this country. We have a census coming up in a few years. Now is the time to set the parameters that help create the maps which strengthen our communities and draw districts that reflect their population. It is up to the Supreme Court to create ground rules that will help restore trust in our electoral system and create a more democratic and fair, fair country. This case, make no mistake, is about fairness. Fairness to the voters. Americans deserve fair, equal representation in our democracy. Why . Because voters should select their elected representatives. Voters should select their elected representatives. Elected representatives should not choose their voters. Lets give the power back where it belongs. Lets give the power back to the voters. Lets end partisan gerrymandering. Thank you. [applause] power to the people. We are tired of your tampering stop your gerrymandering we are tired of your tampering stop your gerrymandering we are tired of your tampering stop your gerrymandering please join me in welcoming our next speaker. We have the vp for legal progress from the center for American Progress, michele stop your gerrymandering jawando. [applause] michele hi, everyone. How are you . You have to talk back to me because we are at a rally in front of the Supreme Court. How are you doing . [cheers] all right. The reason we are here today is that nine justices, one of whom many people think is sitting in a stolen seat but that is for another day, but nine justices today are hearing a case of fundamental importance to our democracy. I come before you as the Vice President at center for American Progress action fund and we have something to say about this case. Gerrymandering leads to skewed representation and legislators who are less responsive to the will of voters. Politicians are picking their voters instead of the other way around. Redistricting has broken our democracy. But scotus has in opportunity to fix it. We know that gerrymandering legislators are enacting policies that their voters do not support. How do we know . That me give you some facts. I know we live in a time of alternative facts but let me break some down for you today. The expansion of medicaid is something the majority of voters support but 19 states have refused federal funding. As a result, 2. 6 Million People have denied access to Affordable Health care insurance. Why . Because their legislators dont represent the will of the people. We are here on the eve of the las vegas tragedy. The greatest, largest mass shooting in our country. Yet, we know that 90 , 90 of the American People support common sense gun reform. What does that mean . Background checks. We know that 82 of trump voters support background checks, but what do we have . Legislators right there who refuse to work on the behalf of the American People. Enough is enough. We see state legislators that are preempting local laws that expand civil rights and protections and minimum wage increases. Why . Because our representatives increases. Why . Because our representatives arent representing us. But today, there are democrats here and there are republicans here and our independents here and our people from red states, blue states, and are people who are trends partisan and people who are standing up and saying enough is enough, we need fair maps. We need you to represent us. [applause] we the people, we the people as enshrined in the great foundational document of our country, we the people are saying we know that the deck has been stacked against us but nine justices have an opportunity to right those wrongs. They have the opportunity to change what has become a normal daytoday occurrence. We need our representatives to once again represent us. So what do we want today . Fair maps. What do we want . Fair maps. What do we want . Fair maps. What do we want . Fair maps. Thank you so much. [applause] democracy now democracy now democracy now democracy now democracy now please join me in welcoming before we welcome our next speaker, i first wanted thank all of the speakers that came on before hand, so please give them a round of applause. And a round of applause for yourselves for joining us here this morning. The court is about to get out so before we continue with our next section, we want everyone together off to the side so we can take a group picture. Please dont leave, we will be joined by lawyers that are coming out. We have former governor schwarzenegger who is going to be joining us. Please dont leave and join us for the picture. Please join me in welcoming our next speaker, congressman bill foster of illinois. Mr. Foster my name is bill foster. I am the u. S. Congressman from the 11th district of illinois but i am also a son of wisconsin. Coming out of the door soon will be bill whitford, an old friend of my parents my father was on the university of law school for many decades. There is no one who better represents what progressives call the wisconsin idea. The idea that a University Professor should through his service improve the way our Government Works for all of its citizens. There cannot be a more fitting cap to the career of bill whitford that we hope to see from the Supreme Court in the coming months. Im also the only phd physicist in the United States congress. [applause] you can either applaud or cry. It has been true for more than a decade that the Supreme Court has been waiting for an objective measure to identify an egregious partisan gerrymandering and they have now in this case been presented by one of many workable metrics to identify that. I hope they do the right thing to not only support the principle, one person, one vote, and to promote confidence in our democracy, but do the right thing scientifically and to acknowledge the fact that there are objective measures that can set this problem right. Thank you for being out here. [applause] show me what democracy looks like this is what democracy looks like show me what democracy looks like this is what democracy looks like show me what democracy looks like this is what democracy looks like again, if we can give a round of applause to all of the speakers and all of you joining us this morning. We are going to take a short break so please dont leave. If we can have you gather off to the side we will try to get a group picture. Please dont leave. Speakers will be joining us in the next few minutes. Thank you. Again, if you are tweeting, posting anything, dont forget to use the fairmaps. This way. [indiscernible chatter] hey hey, ho ho, partisan gerrymandering has to go hey hey, ho ho, partisan gerrymandering has to go hey hey, ho ho, partisan gerrymandering has to go hey hey, ho, ho, partisan gerrymandering has to go please join me in welcoming our next speaker. We have the executive director from the Lawyers Committee for civil rights under law, kristen clarke. Kristen for the last 30 years, gerrymandering has to go the Supreme Court has thrown up its hands whenever a partisan gerrymandering case has come before it. With no clarity, the result is partisan politics run amok and Political Parties rigging the outcome of elections through gerrymandering before voters have even gone to the polls. The whitford case presents an opportunity to finally put standards in place, that put power back in the hands of the people. The voters that deserve to have their voices heard in the electoral process. This includes africanamericans, latinos and minority voters whose Voting Rights are constantly under attack, and who often suffer when politicians rig the system further own political gain. Racial gerrymandering is also a threat and can be a proxy for partisan gerrymandering which diminishes the voices of minority voters. This is what makes this case so important today. It is about ensuring the opportunity for all voters to have fair representation and meaningful participation in our democracy. The Lawyers Committee for civil rights under law is fighting with all of you to ensure that the rights of every eligible voter in this country are protected. And we call upon the Supreme Court to provide a long overdue remedy of partisan gerrymandering, one that is sufficiently flexible to deal with the way race affects our court to provide a long overdue political process as well. Gerrymandering is a threat to the integrity of american democracy. It is time to rein in politicians who skew redistricting maps for their own naked partisan agenda. Today, Justice Sotomayor powerfully asked what value does gerrymandering have on our democracy . Gerrymandering has no value in our democracy. [applause] it is time for the Supreme Court to adopt an overdue rule making clear what constitutes unlawful gerrymandering and it is time for the Supreme Court to put in place rules that would yield fair maps. Fair maps in which the voices of all voters will be heard. Thank you. [applause] were tired of your tampering stop the gerrymandering were tired of your tampering stop the gerrymandering were tired of your tampering stop the gerrymandering were tired of your tampering stop your gerrymandering please join me in welcoming our next speaker from the Fair Elections project of wisconsin, sachin chheda. [applause] sachin ladies and gentlemen, are you ready to take back our democracy . Are you ready to take back our country . Are you ready to say that everybodys vote counts . Yes sachin this case started because citizens got together, five of us in a tea room in milwaukee after the 2012 election when we turned around and said our votes dont count. We got a majority of the votes but did not get a majority of the seats so we said we are not just going to stand here for the next 10 years and let it go, we are going to do something about it. We got a majority of the votes but did not get a majority of citizens together can take back our democracy. I was inside just now. I heard the case that the state made and they were concerned about states rights and they were concerned about the republic democracy. The one thing i did not hear them ask is where are the people . Where are the people of the United States of america that is supposed to be the core of our constitution . Where is the government for the people . Wheres the government by the people . Our five citizens came together and we grew. We added bill whitford who became the lead plaintiff. We had leadership from legislators, from citizen activists, the naacp, groups like the Campaign Legal center and the chicago Lawyers Committee. We have come together as the wisconsin fair maps coalition, 11 groups strong, to say we are not going to take it anymore. Whether we win or not, we put the issue of fair maps on the table. Are you with me to keep fighting . This is a bipartisan effort. This is not about winning for democrats in wisconsin. It is about waiting for everyone in wisconsin. This is not about winning for republicans in maryland. It is about waiting for everyone in maryland and massachusetts. It is about winning for everybody to make our democracy work again because when we come together as a country, when we come together as people, the promise of america is met. Today, the promise of america is not being met. We are not achieving our greatest selves. If you want to make America Great again, end gerrymandering. Let me say one more thing. When we say we are fighting for democracy, these are not just empty words. Democracy happens when people participate. One thing that we heard that no one disputed inside is that gerrymandering and taking peoples vote away suppresses democracy. It suppresses participation in the very idea of america. So whether you believe you should stand with the hand on your heart or believe you should take a knee, or you believe you should vote blue or vote red whether you come from the south, the north, the east, the west, the midwest, together we are going to rise again as a nation. We are going to bring fair maps and we need your help to do it. Are you with me . Yes. Sachin all right, america, lets do this. Show me what democracy looks like this is what democracy looks like show me what democracy looks like this is what democracy looks like show me what democracy looks like this is what democracy looks like show me what democracy looks like this is what democracy looks like [cheering] what do we want . Representation when do we want it . Now what do we want . What do we want . Representation when do we want it . Now what do we want . Representation when do we want it . Now end gerrymandering when do we want it . What do we want . Now end gerrymandering end gerrymandering end gerrymandering end gerrymandering now please join me in welcoming our next speaker, wendy sue johnson, a wisconsin resident and plaintiff in todays case. [applause] wendy thank you all for being here. I understand you have already heard my good friend sachin. When i think about this case, what comes to mind is his quote at the tea room and the quote that you should never doubt a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. That small group sat down in that tea room in 2013 and decided we are not going to give up until we can fix this thing and the only way to do it is to launch a case. Three years ago, when bill whitford, whose name you all know, called me and said i am bill, im a retired law professor, you should join this case. I am going to send you this law review that was just published and i just opened up my own firm. I started out as a review that was just published and i just opened up my own firm. I started out as a School Teacher for 10 years and my husband said you should not put your name on this thing because you will alienate your potential clients and you have this law firm to think about. I said if they care that much about my politics, they probably already know what they are. I said i dont care. One of the reasons i quit being a teacher and went to law school is so that i could join causes like this to make a difference. Difference in policies and difference for our democracy. When i was a member before i finished law school, i took the note to heart that you should change the world if you can and i served on a local school board. As a member of the school board, we met with our local legislators. We met cordially with democrats and republicans. We talked about School Funding and things important to us. Im sensing that perhaps Arnold Schwarzenegger is here, right . Anyway, my former representative who now has a District Across the street from my got up and left the very last meeting we had with our legislators and said i cant listen to this vile political commentary. What i was talking about is in the same National Economy prioritizing different funding and different priorities, like the state of minnesota. She literally walked out on the elected School Board Officials in her district because it she didnt have to listen to our concerns anymore. That was really the symptom of this greater problem. Voters should choose their representatives, they should not choose us to keep their jobs sacred. They should be accountable to us. They should compromise. We should come back from the polarization in this country and Work Together for democracy. [applause] mr. Hebert my name is gerry hebert and i am one of the lawyers for the bill whitford plaintiffs. [applause] thank you for being here because by being here, you are standing at a historic moment for our democracy. We are going to win this case because we believe in justice, we believe in fairness, and we believe in democracy where people and voters get to choose who represents them instead of politicians choosing and cherry picking which voters they like and which voters they dont like. Our countrys great promise is a government of the people, by the people and for the people. The most fundamental liberty is the right to choose freely who are elected representatives are when we go to the polls to vote. Whether that promise continues to be a real one today is precisely what was at stake when we were inside arguing this case. You know and i know that partisan politics on both sides of the aisle have rigged the system. We heard the Court Justices today asked questions which concluded the words rigged, stack the deck against voters. They know whats going on. Today, politicians and their consultants used precision, Sophisticated Technology to manipulate voting maps to keep their group in power with no respect, no regard for voters. Partisan gerrymandering is nothing short of a crisis for our democracy. It is more acute now than in any time in history, since even Elbridge Gerry coined the phrase by gerrymandering massachusetts. And as paul smith, my great colleague, said today the Supreme Court is our last hope. The politicians arent going to do it. The Wisconsin Legislature arent going to do it. Politicians will never do it. The court must step in. The wonderful plaintiffs who stood up for this case, they stood up and we need people in our history and society to stand up for what is right. We are hopeful today that the Supreme Court hears you out here and heard us in there to make sure they rise to the occasion, that they stop the extreme gerrymandering in its tracks, because we know that politicians wont do it and the American People are crying out for a solution on both sides of the aisle. Republicans and democrats overwhelmingly say to the Supreme Court, step in and do something, even if it costs my party seats in the legislature. They know that its unfair. They know that its undemocratic. Lets hope today is just the beginning of the end of the basic practice of gerrymandering us into submission. Thank you for your support. [applause] show me what democracy looks like this is what democracy looks like show me what democracy looks like this is what democracy looks like show me what democracy looks like this is what democracy looks like please join me in welcoming our next speaker. We have representative kessler of wisconsins district 12. [applause] rep. Kessler im the one who organized the meeting at watts tea room. [applause] i knew how bad this redistricting was in wisconsin and i knew that we would never have an opportunity to have democrats winning control in this decade and the court found that out. We were absolutely pleased when the threejudge panel wrote its decision and judge ripple, who was appointed by president reagan, wrote the decision that said wisconsins map is unconstitutional. I have to say that was a lift up for our spirits and we said we are going to go to the Supreme Court and we are going to end this. Thank you very much for coming. Thank you for your support and i think today i am going to be predicting a victory for us. Thank you. [applause] what do we want . Representation when do we want it . Now what do we want . Representation when politicians choose, the voters always lose. When politicians choose, the voters always lose. When politicians lose, the voters always lose. Where tired of your tampering, stop your gerrymandering were tired of your tampering stop your jan brewer gerrymandering please join me in welcoming our next speaker, former governor of california Arnold Schwarzenegger. You,schwarzenegger thank thank you. Hello, everybody. Its wonderful to be here in washington. Im looking at the building, am talking about congress now, that has an Approval Rating of 16 . And colonoscopies are more popular than congress. [laughter] for some reason, 98 of them get reelected. The reason is because it is a fixed einstein said that a long time ago with that the ones said create the problems cannot fix it. Congress will never fix this problem because they have one interest and one interest only, it is to stay in power no matter what the cost. That is why they protect the incumbent. If they protect the incumbent there is no competition. And there is no competition there is no performance. For decades theyve talked about fixing our immigration system. For decades they have talked about fixing our infrastructure. For decades that have talked about fixing our deficit and lowering the debt. Nothing is getting done. At the same time, 98 of them are getting reelected. So you know it is a fixed system. You know it is a system where voters are picking the the politicians are picking the voters rather than the voters theing the taking politicians. It is time to terminate gerrymandering. Thank you very much. Thank you. [applause] terminator thank you for joining us today. Lets give a round to everybody. What do we want . Representation. When did we now went we want . What do we want take . Representation now what do we want . Representation wind we won in . Now announcer we will have the full argument when it is released on friday. Catch a. Net 8 00 p. M. Eastern. Coming up, the former chairman and ceo starts his fourth day straight of testimony about the data breach. Him before thee House Financial Services Committee Live at 9 30 a. M. Atch both on cspan3, online cspan. Org and online on the free cspan radio app. Tracks at the cspan bus is traveling across the country on our Capital Cities for. Recently stopped in and up a list and ask people what was the most important issue in their state. I live in an apple us in maryland and teach at st. Johns filmingwhere we are now. We are concerned about our heritage, the heritage of slavery and the civil war. Many of you have heard there was a statue of the judge who wrote the dred scott decision taken down from an front of these date house. My concern is, how do we have conversations about our past. Readat st. Johns, we frederick douglass, we read the dred scott decisions, we read the speeches of lincolns and try to have real conversations another about the points of view. That is one of the things i care about most deeply, how can we as americans have real conversations where everyone is respected, but were also some role understanding can be reached about issues which really matter for our heritage, history, and what is happening today. So that is what i am hoping for, not just fighting. Not just arguing. Nudges power struggles but real communion, conversation, and building real community. My name is javon. I believe a major issue in the state of maryland is incarceration, most importantly when people come out of prison walls i believe employment, housing, a support system is very vital to people staying out of prisons and keeping recidivism down. I believe its the people who are formerly incarcerated get employment, something substantial for their families, that will keep them and the state say. Hello. I am the president of st. Johns college. I think the issue that is most critical for us to address today is the issue of civil discourse. Johns college, we offer young people the opportunity to sit around a table and discuss in our seminars the most important issues pertaining to what it means to be a human eating. What Human Flourishing is. In a floores to be showing society. Of web the opportunity to do that, sit around the table and look each other in the eye and address one anothers humanity and then begin our conversation about important things, we will be a much stronger nation, a better society, and we will come much closer to finding solutions to the problems we face. So i encourage everybody out that modelink about of civil discourse, to address each other first as human beings and then ask tough questions together. I am a junior at st. Johns college, i am a student supervisor at the mitchell art gallery and currently at the museum it is and my job is to teach people about the art and get them involved in the workshops we offer at st. Johns and the community. I think it is important for somebody to understand the art because you understand history, you understand literature, and you understand the culture of the art youre looking at. If you can understand history you can understand yourself and where you want to go in the future. Voices from the states on cspan. Earlier this evening, we got an update on the sunday mass shooting at the Harvest Festival in las vegas. We will hear from the car country josh we will hear from the we will hear from the clark county undersecretary, and the coroner