Almost two weeks the California State legislature abandoned their promise to tackle the issue of independent redistricting. The complete statement is at the bottom of this entry.

Specifically, Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata (D – Oakland) said “ I don’t think our whole idea was so much to get it on this year’s ballot as it was to show people that there was a determination to have an alternative method to draw the state lines.”

Bottom line is that he didn’t feel a month (what happened to the year preceding the month, he doesn’t explain) was enough time to stick to his commitment.

However, I guess 5 days is enough time to try and reverse the successful changes in workers comp. Perata is now making a last ditch effort boost disability benefits for severely injured workers.

Perata spokeswoman (I wasn’t there, but perhaps she said it with a straight face) said, “Senator Perata made a commitment.” It appears Mr. Perata is very particular about which commitments count and which are made for political expediency. It would be nice if he helped us understand the difference.

There is no question about the need to reform the redistricting process and our current system of term limits in California. But given the tremendous impact any proposal crafted by the Legislature this year could have on politics and policymaking in our state, we feel it is the best course not to pursue a sweeping reform package in the waning hours of the legislative session. Make no mistake, our caution in crafting a reform package this year does not in any way diminish our determination to fix a broken system. We stand committed to revisiting redistricting and term limits reform in the next legislative session – to once and for all craft responsible, bipartisan political reforms for the people of California.