Let the real debate on Prop 77 finally begin

Proposition 77 in California is aiming to redraw legislative districts by appointing a group of retired judges to decide legislative district boundaries rather than allowing current legislatures who clearly have a conflict of interest in preserving their own status quo in deciding the boundaries.

From the article:

The California Supreme Court ruled Friday that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's attempt to change the way legislative districts are drawn should be placed back on November's special election ballot.

The 4-2 decision overturns a state appellate court ruling that removed the measure because of a wording dispute. It also settles the slate of initiatives voters will decide Nov. 8, unless the governor and the Democratically controlled Legislature agree to a compromise set of reforms in the days ahead.

The initial brouhaha was centered on the different wording between the text submitted to the Attorney General for placement on the ballot and the text presented on the petition in obtaining signatures. Daniel Weintraub's California Insider lists the differences between the two, which mainly differs on "nominating" versus "selecting".

In another post, Weintraub pointed out that even Former Governor Gray Davis supported remap reform:

I think its better off having people who are not combatants in this process, retired judges, draw those lines. Actually, I think of the last 4 reapportionments, Eric, 2 were drawn by judges because the courts threw out the redistrict plans and they turned out fine. So, uh, I’m for that initiative. I’m not for it starting in 2006, but I’m for the concept of having judges draw the lines.

Here is the description for Proposition 77 prepared by Attorney General Bill Lockyear's office. A list of other ballot initiatives for California can be found here.