Legislators: Protecting coast vital

Louisiana is one of 10 states that will lose congressional seats in 2012 because of population shifts indicated in the 2010 U.S. Census. While nationally the total number of inhabitants increased 9.7 percent since 2000, gains in select areas rewarded only eight states with boosted representation n and some consider punished others with cuts.

Along with Louisiana, individual seats were lost in Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Both New York and Ohio lost two spots of congressional representation.

States that picked up districts were Texas with four seats, Florida gained two positions, and single spots were added for Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, South Carolina, Utah and Washington.

All state legislators involved, whether on the gaining or losing end, will spend a good portion of 2011 redrawing districts to fit the math handed down by federal headcounters for their specific states.

The result will impact not only how much clout one area might have over another in state houses and in Congress, but could influence how many federal tax dollars will be returned to various regions once budget appropriations are made.

The redistricting process starts with a basic formula of taking the 2010 national population of 308,745,538 and dividing that by the 435 current seats in the House of Representatives. The number left n in this case 708,000 n is designated as the approximate population every district is required to have. Then it is a matter for state lawmakers to draw lines to determine representation. For some states, like Louisiana, added factors come into play.

“What the legislature is bound to do [first] under federal law is to draw the Congressional district in which African Americans will be able to elect a candidate of their choice. That is currently the 2nd [District] and mostly New Orleans,” said Louisiana House of Representatives Clerk Alfred “Butch” Speer.

Because of a loss of population n from 484, 674 in 2000 to 284,951 in 2010 n in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, the 2nd Congressional District is expected to reach geographically farther outside the central metropolitan area than it had in the past.

“The rest of the state will be able to be drawn in any way that [legislators] can come up with,” Speer said.

The House clerk explained there was no certainty as to which part of the state might gain or lose in order to eliminate one district and said that the options are open and could be pretty extreme before all the drawing is done.

“It’s going to matter more about the coalitions of legislators from the various areas and what they want to band together to protect,” Speer said.

Working to defend their interests is exactly what state Rep. Gordon Dove, R-Houma, said he and legislators from the 3rd Congressional District intend to do.

“There are some areas that want to split up the 3rd District, but we’re going to do everything in our power to stop it,” Dove said.

Dove noted that the 3rd District is not the only area targeted by rumors of being eliminated. He went on to say that the geographic makeup of the current 3rd District adds to its strength.

“Terrebonne, Lafourche, St. Mary, I definitely don’t want to see us split up. The way the 3rd District is made out I think is good for coastal restoration and oil and gas efforts,” Dove said. “I’ve talked to the governor. I’ve talked to the chairman of the [state] Senate and we’re going to do everything we can to keep the 3rd District together.”

Rep.-elect Jeff Landry, R-New Iberia, who has not yet taken office to represent the 3rd District in Washington, stands to lose not only political influence if the current area of representation is divided, but the action could shatter any hope of his seeking reelection in 2012 even before he gets half-way through an initial term.

“Regardless of who comes in first or who comes in last, the state legislature is going to make that determination. I think it is incumbent on them to draw districts that fit the favor of the commonality among people, and issues, and problems. Certainly it is what gives the coastal district argument,” Landry said.

Landry was forthcoming regarding his preference that the 3rd Congressional District be an all coastal representation. He went on to say that if it meant splitting some parishes to make the population number of 708,000 work he would support that decision, but doubted that division would occur among the Tri-parishes.

“This coastal plan would insure that Terrebonne, Lafourche and St. Mary [Parishes] would remain in the same district. [A new district alignment] would make up the current 3rd District, but just have to pick up population from the west,” Landry said. “I would be vocal in trying to insure that at a minimum the legislature would look at the core of the 3rd Congressional District and try to keep it intact. There is always a chance of a lot happening,” Landry said.

Speer confirmed that there has never been a completely coastal district in the state’s history, but that the idea is not completely out of the question. “If the coastal delegation slams their fist on the table and says, ‘There shall be a costal district,’ and does it in a unified way, then that certainly increases the chances of that coastal district being there,” he said.

Speer said that residents of Louisiana can expect to see a fight as legislators and Congressmen compete to protect their own interests. The House clerk also said that he expects to see either Rep. John Fleming, R-Shreveport, or Rep. Rodney Alexander, R-Quitman, in the state’s northern Congressional 4th and 5th Districts, respectfully, or Rep. Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette, in the 7th Congressional District or Landry to be without a public office in 2012.

“It is a challenge because there are people who resist almost every decision,” Speer said.

“[As we try] to get a coastal congressional district, we are going to do our best to keep [the existing 3rd District] intact,” Dove said.

Those questioned agreed that public influence, including telephone calls to state legislators and to the governor’s office, can only help when it comes to redistricting efforts.

Beginning in February, public meetings will be conducted to explain the redistricting process and accept public input. One such meeting will be held in Houma on Feb. 21.

Additionally, for the first time, the Louisiana Legislature will meet in special session on March 20, 2011 to address the redrawing of congressional and state district lines. A total of 97 state House and 37 state Senate members signed a petition that called for the joint assembly of lawmakers. The session must end no later than 6 p.m., Wednesday, April 13, 2011.