Rebuffed by the California Supreme Court, a former Republican congressman and four others filed suit this week in federal court seeking to overturn the state's newly drawn congressional maps.
The lawsuit by Mariposa Republican George Radanovich, who left Congress in January, marks GOP interests' latest attack on districts drawn for the first time by an independent citizens commission.
Radanovich's federal suit contends that the panel violated federal voting rights law and the U.S. Constitution by seeking to protect three African American incumbents in the drawing of three Los Angeles congressional districts.
Redistricting Commissioner Stan Forbes, the panel's current rotating chairman, defended the maps drawn by the 14-member panel created by voters in 2008.
"The commission carefully considered the drawing of each districts, and our decisions were fully briefed by our Voting Rights Act counsel," Forbes said. "We expect our maps, once again, to withstand any legal challenges."
Democratic Reps. Karen Bass, Maxine Waters and Laura Richardson are the incumbents whose districts are the lawsuit's focus.
The state Supreme Court, without comment, decided last month not to hear Radanovich's suit challenging the congressional maps.
BALLOT WATCH
Four proposed ballot initiatives were cleared for signature-gathering this week, bringing the number of proposals now in circulation to 30. The latest four would tax oil and natural gas extracted in California; abolish the state's environmental laws and agencies; legalize pot; and tax controlled substances. Their deadline for signatures is April 19.
WORTH REPEATING
"A concealed weapon in the hands of honest and law-abiding citizens makes us all safer."
REP. TOM McCLINTOCK, R-Elk Grove, in a congressional floor speech last week made in support of legislation to require all states to honor a concealed weapon permit issued in other states
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