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Politics : Sharks in the Septic Tank -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Bill who wrote (44557)	2/21/2002 11:29:58 AM
From: Constant Reader	Respond to of 82486

Both parties have much to answer for in California. Thanks to the Incumbent Protection Act of 2001, there will be at most 3 competitive legislative races in California in November. This is despite the fact that all 80 State Assembly seats, 20 of 40 State Senate seats, and all 52 Congressional seats are up for grabs. The Republicans were afraid that their small numbers would grow even smaller and so they cut a deal with the Democrats to create as many safe seats as possible for both parties. This ought to insure Democratic Party domination of the state legislature through 2012 if not 2022 and preserve the lopsided Democrat-Republican ratio in the Congressional delegation as well. Why the interest in preserving their minority status? One reason is that we have term limits. Everyone wants to move up to the next tier when termed out (6 years in Assembly + 8 years in State Senate) and no one wants any heavy competition. It is also a big reason why they moved the primary from June to March: it is more difficult for challengers to get funds and raise interest this early in the year, leaving the field open to virtual automatic renomination or advancement to the next job. About the only time there will be a race is when 2 Assembly members want to graduate to the same State Senate seat.