This will be a running blog on what kind of strange stuff could happen in the brave, new and red world of Carson City, where the 22-11-1 math means the Republicans can pretty much do what they want.
First speculation: Redistricting.
In 1985, the GOP had 25 seats in the Assembly. They proceeded to lose control the next election. And how: It became 29-13, Democrats.
Many of the current crop of 25 assemblymen are sitting in Democratic seats and a handful of the 11 GOP senators could be at risk. So could they change that?
Here's what the Constitution says:
Sec. 5. Number of Senators and members of Assembly; apportionment. Senators and members of the Assembly shall be duly qualified electors in the respective counties and districts which they represent, and the number of Senators shall not be less than one-third nor more than one-half of that of the members of the Assembly.
It shall be the mandatory duty of the Legislature at its first session after the taking of the decennial census of the United States in the year 1950, and after each subsequent decennial census, to fix by law the number of Senators and Assemblymen, and apportion them among the several counties of the State, or among legislative districts which may be established by law, according to the number of inhabitants in them, respectively.
Doesn't say they can't do it between the turns of the decade, right?
That might be one way to help shaky new Assemblyfolk and maybe even buttress newly minted Rep. Cresent Hardy.
Should I not have said anything?
(One addendum: They also may have a friendly GOP attorney general if they need a helpful AGO (attorney general's opinion) on the subject. It's good to control all the moving parts, although the state Supreme Court might have to weigh in.)
This will be a running blog on what kind of strange stuff could happen in the brave, new and red world of Carson City, where the 22-11-1 math means the Republicans can pretty much do what they want.
First speculation: Redistricting.
In 1985, the GOP had 25 seats in the Assembly. They proceeded to lose control the next election. And how: It became 29-13, Democrats.
Many of the current crop of 25 assemblymen are sitting in Democratic seats and a handful of the 11 GOP senators could be at risk. So could they change that?
Here's what the Constitution says:
Sec. 5. Number of Senators and members of Assembly; apportionment. Senators and members of the Assembly shall be duly qualified electors in the respective counties and districts which they represent, and the number of Senators shall not be less than one-third nor more than one-half of that of the members of the Assembly.
It shall be the mandatory duty of the Legislature at its first session after the taking of the decennial census of the United States in the year 1950, and after each subsequent decennial census, to fix by law the number of Senators and Assemblymen, and apportion them among the several counties of the State, or among legislative districts which may be established by law, according to the number of inhabitants in them, respectively.
Doesn't say they can't do it between the turns of the decade, right?
That might be one way to help shaky new Assemblyfolk and maybe even buttress newly minted Rep. Cresent Hardy.
Should I not have said anything?
(One addendum: They also may have a friendly GOP attorney general if they need a helpful AGO (attorney general's opinion) on the subject. It's good to control all the moving parts, although the state Supreme Court might have to weigh in.)
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