Real Representation, Redistricting, and the Supreme Court

I’ve often spoken about the importance of providing real representation for the people of Michigan’s 7th district. I am qualified to offer this representation because I was raised here, and I know us – the people of Greater Lansing, Livingston, Shiawassee, and South Lyon, we who drive up and down I-96, 69, and 127, the three major highways that span our district across each axis.

We have the opportunity for real representation because our district was drawn by the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission to represent the real community known as Mid-Michigan. We owe a tremendous thanks to Voters Not Politicians, the formidable grassroots group that passed the independent redistricting plan in 2018.

Many Americans across the country lack the opportunity for real representation because their maps are not drawn to represent real communities, but for the sake of partisan advantage. Partisan “gerrymandering” results in absurdly shaped districts that no voter can be expected to understand, lumping together communities that share little in common, while separating voters from their neighbors across the street.

The Supreme Court’s recent decision in Louisiana vs. Callais declares that partisan gerrymandering is legal, but districts that ensure real representation for racial minorities are illegal. This decision guts the 1965 Voting Rights Act, one of the signature achievements of the Civil Rights Movement, the bill for which the late John Lewis took a beating on the Edmund Pettis Bridge in Selma. Republicans in six southern states are now working overtime to split up historically Black districts in places like Memphis.

This result is disenfranchisement of Black voters, and a national playing field slanted towards Republicans. According to election data experts, Democrats will have to win the national popular vote by over 4% in order to control the U.S. House. According to the Supreme Court, that’s perfectly fine!

This is wrong. Congress should be as diverse as the American public, districts should have geographic and social integrity based on communities of shared interest, and the partisan split of the House should roughly correspond to the split of the popular vote.

As your Congressman, I will seek every remedy for the destructive actions of this corrupt Supreme Court. Congress can act to expand the Court, which I will do when the time is right. I will pursue ethics hearings for Justices Thomas and Alito’s many alleged financial conflicts of interest.

Additionally, I will support election reforms including ranked choice voting, proportional representation, and public financing of elections. These measures will help Americans to elect representatives that truly understand and speak for them.

Votes of Note In DC

Congress was on recess last week.

Barrett works overtime to authorize the failing war in Iran. Barrett introduced a bill to authorize Trump’s illegal and undeclared war in Iran. He already voted against multiple war powers resolutions to stop it. He wants to present himself as skeptical of the war, but all of his actual actions as Congressman have been to support it.

District Notes

Clean slate available at expungement fair. The City of Lansing is hosting a free expungement fair on May 15 from 12:00–4:00 PM at the Allen Neighborhood Center. Partners include Safe and Just Michigan, Legal Services of South Central Michigan, and the Attorney General’s office. If you or your loved ones have criminal offenses, you may be eligible for expungement and a clean slate on your record. (Pre-registration encouraged.)

“Broken” relationship between E.L. and Independent Police Oversight Commission. Commissioners have been denied access to body camera footage for over a year and a half and blocked from reviewing use-of-force narratives. The NAACP is calling for the police chief and city manager to resign. I’m frustrated to see the city resisting accountability for public servants. (Source: WLNS)

Livingston County recognizes Mental Health Awareness Month. The Livingston County Mental Health Awareness Workgroup is hosting free events all month, including Mental Health First Aid trainings, a youth student panel, a community town hall, a 5K, and support groups for teens and parents. All events are free and open to the public. (Calendar and registration.)