California's Democrat-led Legislature is moving forward with a redistricting plan to place new congressional maps on the November ballot aimed at ousting at least five Republican members of Congress. Democrats frame the effort as a response to Republican-led gerrymandering in Texas, while California GOP lawmakers call the plan an abuse of power. Cost estimates for a statewide special election are uncertain: bill analyses mention the "low millions," finance officials continue to calculate numbers with the Secretary of State, and one Assembly member cited an estimate of $230 million. Counties may need to pay upfront and seek reimbursement.
The proposal would put new congressional maps before voters in November, which are designed to oust at least five of California's nine Republican members of Congress. Democrats say the effort is a necessary counter to Republican-led gerrymandering in Texas, while GOP lawmakers in California have blasted the plan as an abuse of power. In hearings Wednesday, Republicans pressed Democrats for a clear price tag on running the statewide special election. Bill analyses of the proposals provided few details about the cost, saying the special election would cost somewhere in the "low millions" of dollars. "No one has time to figure this out, where the money is going to come from," said Asm. Dianne Dixon, R-Newport Beach.
Finance officials told the Assembly Appropriations Committee they were still working on the numbers with the California Secretary of State's office. "This is a very developing issue that we will continue to look at as developments occur," said Millie Yan of the Department of Finance. ABC7 News asked Appropriations Chair Asm. Buffy Wicks, D-Oakland, when California taxpayers will get an official cost estimate for the special election.
It's unclear who will foot the bill, since the Legislature has not earmarked funds or identified an official estimated cost. Wicks suggested California counties will have to pay now and get reimbursed later. "The estimates are $230 million," Wicks said. "We will continue to work through those numbers. We're going to make sure that counties are made whole, that our election officials are made whole as they are im
Collection
[
|
...
]