U.S. Reps. Gary Peters and Sander Levin would end up in the same congressional district under a redistricting map Republicans are reviewing that was obtained by The Detroit News.
The draft plan, in the works for weeks, also would boost GOP majorities in a number of districts, making it easier for Republicans to hold onto their seats. It was reviewed this week by a group of state GOP lawmakers, representatives from the Michigan Chamber of Commerce and the Michigan Attorney General's office, two sources with knowledge of the meeting told The News. The sources requested anonymity because they weren't authorized to speak about the redistricting efforts.
... but Gongwer found out that it is the Chamber calling the shots here.
Robert LaBrant, the general counsel for the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, has the lead role in crafting the new maps for Michigan's 14 U.S. House districts, Gongwer News Service has learned.
LaBrant, considered one of the foremost experts on election, campaign finance and redistricting laws in the state, is working with Jeff Timmer, a Republican political consultant with the Lansing-based Sterling Corporation, in designing the maps, a source told Gongwer News Service. LaBrant also is a key figure in the Chamber's backing of conservative candidates.
Hey, they bought the government, they should make sure they get to keep it, right?
Elections have consequences, and 2010 has had consequences that are going to hurt for a long, long time.