December 13, 2023
Statement by Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning):
“The Court of Appeals has just sent New York’s Congressional Districts into chaos. In 2014, the voters of this state made it clear they no longer wanted partisan gerrymandering; Democrats in Washington and Albany, however, had different plans. Instead of accepting the fair and competitive lines drawn by the Special Court Master that were used in the 2022 elections, Democrats have decided the lines needed to be redrawn because they lost control of Congress. This was always part of their plan from the beginning. First, file a lawsuit to throw out the Congressional Districts. Then appoint a new Court of Appeals Judge. This appointment was later followed by a judge’s recusal and a replacement appointed just for this case. Now, the Court of Appeals has ruled and sent the Congressional maps back to the Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC). The IRC is set up to fail to come up with a bipartisan agreement on fair and competitive Congressional Districts and instead allow the Democrat-controlled Legislature to draw new gerrymandered Congressional maps that favor Democrats to shift the power in Congress. Unfortunately, Democrats in Washington and Albany do not want fair and competitive Congressional Districts. They just want power.”
Statement From Senator George Borrello:
“The Court of Appeals decision that the congressional maps drawn by an independent expert should be thrown out and replaced with gerrymandered maps created by New York’s Democratic machine is deeply disappointing. The ruling confirms that Democrats have successfully weaponized our courts and tainted the last truly independent branch of state government. It is also a veiled message to New Yorkers that the ‘will of the people’ won’t be honored unless it aligns with the will of New York’s corrupt ruling class. The accountable, transparent redistricting process that state residents voted for has been thrown aside. It has been defeated by brazen political ambition and corruption. Here in New York, where the wreckage of their radical policies surrounds us, Democrats know they can’t win on a level playing field. That is why they have and will continue their efforts to rig the system through the courts and through slanted and often unconstitutional electoral laws and processes.”
