Barclay: Statement On Democrats’ Vote To Reverse Redistricting Referendum

by Contributor | January 21, 2021 11:03 am

ALBANY – Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay released the following statement yesterday.

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“By voting today to completely overhaul the state’s legislative redistricting process, Assembly Democrats made a conscious decision to reverse the will of the people in an act motivated entirely by self-preservation.

In 2014, after receiving the Legislature’s overwhelming approval, millions of New Yorkers voted in favor of a Constitutional Amendment that set equitable guidelines for the 2022 redistricting effort. The public referendum ensured reasonable, fair representation by all parties during the process by which legislative lines and districts are established.

The same legislators who previously supported the original amendment today shamelessly voted in opposition to their own measure – before the new redistricting process has even begun. They are moving away from any semblance of independence and equity in the process, disregarded the voter-approved requirements and are blatantly trying to rig the system to work in their favor.

At a minimum, this year’s redistricting effort will impact a decade’s worth of federal and state elections. By attempting to remove all influence of minority parties, Assembly Democrats have demonstrated that a potential power grab outweighs the vote and voice of the public.”

Source URL: https://oswegocountytoday.com/politics/barclay-opinion/barclay-statement-on-democrats-vote-to-reverse-redistricting-referendum/

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