Description: David Boeri reports that the state of Massachusetts has lost a seat in the US House of Representatives because of a decline in the population according to the 1990 census. Mayor Ray Flynn and others are calling for a recount because they believe that the census undercounts urban residents. Footage of census workers going from door to door. Boeri reports on speculation that Congressman Joe Early may retire and on speculation that a redistricting plan would force Congressmen Chester Atkins and Barney Frank to run against one another. Governor William Weld has proposed a redistricting plan under which the city of Boston is represented by one congressman. Interview with State Rep. Peter Forman, who says that suburban areas are unfairly represented and that the city of Boston would represent a "minority seat." Interview with State Rep. Jim Brett, who discusses options for possible redistricting plans. Boeri reports that the proposal to limit Boston to one Congressional seat will probably fail.
1:00:16: Visual: Footage from a campaign debate between Barney Frank (US Representative) and Margaret Heckler (US Representative) sponsored by the League of Women Voters in October of 1982. Shots of the panel at the debate. David Boeri reports that Massachusetts lost a Congressional seat in 1980; that the Democratic Party forced Heckler, the Republican incumbent) to run against Frank. Boeri reports that the state must reduce its eleven congressmen to ten as a result of the 1990 census. V: Shot of shoppers at Downtown Crossing. Boeri reports that Ray Flynn (Mayor of Boston) is calling for a recount; that Flynn and others say that the census undercounts the cities. V: Shot of Flynn; of the front of the Massachusetts State House. Boeri reports that Massachusetts lost its seat by only a narrow margin. V: Footage of James Brett (state representative) being interviewed. Brett says that he doubts if the numbers will change significantly in a census recount. Shot of an African American female census worker knocking on the door of a building. Boeri reports that the US Census Bureau says that the census counts are subject to possible correction until January 15. V: Shot of another African American female census worker knocking on the door of an apartment. Boeri reports that there has never been a successful appeal of a lost congressional seat. V: Shot of a third African American female census worker knocking on the door of an a building. Boeri says that some people are speculating that Joe Early (US Representative) may retire. Boeri notes that Early could keep up to $142,000 worth of campaign funds if he quits before 1992. Boeri adds that Early says that he is planning to run for reelection. V: Shot of representatives in the Congressional chambers. Shot of a black and white photo of Early. Boeri reports that there are rumors of a redistricting plan which would force Frank to run against Chester Atkins (US Representative). V: Shot of Atkins at a campaign event for John Kerry (US Senate); of Frank speaking to the media as he walks through a corridor of a building. Boeri reports that Atkins and Frank are supposed to be the two most unpopular congressmen on Beacon Hill. Boeri reports that Frank, Atkins and Joe Kennedy (US Representative) represent the western suburbs of Boston. V: Footage of Brett being interviewed by Boeri. Brett says that there is a cluster of US Representatives in the suburbs west of Boston. Boeri reports that Brett chairs the legislative redistricting committee. Boeri reports that Brett says that the US congressional districts will be redrawn. V: Footage of Peter Forman (State Representative and prospective House Minority Leader) being interviewed. Forman says that suburban areas are not fairly represented in the current districts; that the current districts are unfair to the Republican Party. Boeri reports that William Weld (governor of Massachusetts) has proposed a plan under which the city of Boston is represented by one congressman. V: Shot of Weld greeting two older men at an event. Footage of Forman being interviewed. Forman says that the state of Massachusetts should probably have a "minority seat." Footage of Brett being interviewed by Boeri. Brett says that Weld's plan sets up the Republican Party to gain seats in the suburbs by limiting the number of seats in Boston. Footage of Forman being interviewed. Forman says that the Democratic Party would like to limit gains by Republicans. Boeri reports that the Republican Party has more say on the issues than in 1980. Boeri notes that Weld is a Republican governor; that there are enough Republican senators to sustain a veto by Weld. V: Shot of Weld speaking at a campaign event in 1990. Boeri reports that Brett wants the redistricting plan to be fair. V: Footage of Brett being interviewed. Brett says that the redistricting plan could end up in federal court. Brett says that the legislative redistricting committee wants to avoid any special deals or the appearance of any improprieties. Boeri stands in front of the Massachusetts State House. Boeri reports that the proposal to limit Boston to one congressional seat will most likely fail. Boeri reports that no money has yet been appropriated for the redistricting process; that the battle has already begun.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 12/27/1990
Description: Christy George reports that shifts in the state's population have forced the Massachusetts House of Representatives to draw up a redistricting plan for the state's legislative districts. State Rep. Jim Brett has been charged with drafting a redistricting plan. Interview with Brett on his plan. Boston and Cambridge will each lose one seat while the South Shore and Cape Cod will each gain a seat. George notes that the Republican Party and minorities are protective of their legislative districts and that both groups seem to be happy with the plan. Interviews with State Rep. Peter Forman and Byron Rushing. Brett and Peter Vellucci will lose their districts and be forced to run against other incumbent legislators. Interviews with State Rep. Vellucci and Paul White. The legislature has voted in favor of the plan. Speaker of the House George Keverian presides over the proceedings in the House chambers.
1:00:00: Visual: Footage of Jim Brett (Massachusetts House of Representatives) and another lawmaker discussing the Massachusetts House of Representatives' redistricting plan for the state of Massachusetts. Brett and the other lawmaker look at a map of the districts. Shots of Brett and the other lawmaker walking into Brett's office; of Brett sitting down behind his desk. Christy George reports that Brett is the architect of the House redistricting plan; that the job of redistricting is difficult; that Brett's colleagues are eager to have input on the borders of their districts. George reports that Brett appears to have done an excellent job in drafting the redistricting plan. V: Footage of Brett and the other lawmaker looking at the map in Brett's office. Brett gives the map to the other lawmaker, saying that he is tired of looking at the map. The other lawmaker exits Brett's office. George notes that Brett has done a heroic job in performing a thankless task. V: Footage of Brett saying that he was told that the redistricting job was a "losing proposition." Brett says that he thinks that he has managed to please all of the people involved. George reports that Brett's task was to keep all 160 state representatives secure in their districts while making shifts in almost all legislative districts. George notes that a shift in the state's population forced the redistricting of the state. [Shot of Brett explaining the redistricting proposal. Brett stands in front of a map of the districts. George notes that the most recent state census shows that Massachusetts' cities have shrank while suburbs have grown. V: Shot of the districts near Boston shown on Brett's map. George notes that Boston and Cambridge are each losing a seat in the legislature; that two new legislative seats will be created on the South Shore and Cape Cod. V: Shots of Brett pointing to the map; of the audience members. Footage of Brett joking that he might need a security fence around his house after the redistricting plan is filed. Shots of audience members listening to Brett. George reports that minority voters and Republican voters want to protect their districts; that the redistricting may allow Republicans to win one of the new seats on the South Shore. V: Footage of Peter Forman (State Representative from Plymouth) saying that he is very happy with the plan because there are two new districts in suburban areas. Footage of Byron Rushing (State Representative) saying that Brett asks representatives in neighboring districts to come to him with group proposals for redistricting; that Brett's efforts to take those proposals into account have led to acceptance of the plan. Shot of Brett entering the House Chambers with another lawmaker. George reports that it is difficult to combine districts; that the act of combining districts pits two incumbent lawmakers against one another. V: Shot from above of Harvard Square in Cambridge. George notes that the shrinking population in Cambridge forced the combinations of three districts into two districts. George reports that Peter Vellucci (State Representative from Cambridge) voted for the redistricting plan; that Vellucci will lose his Cambridge district and be forced to run in Somerville. V: Footage of Vellucci saying that he does not believe that the plan was drawn up according to the wishes of Charles Flaherty (Majority Leader, Massachusetts House of Representatives). Vellucci says that Flaherty and Saundra Graham (State Representative) have always had districts in Cambridge. George notes that Brett's own district in Dorchester was combined with the district of Paul White (State Representative); that White is expected to run for Senate next year. V: Shots of a residential street in Dorchester. Footage of White saying that Brett will have a long political career ahead of him; that Dorchester voters will have a chance to vote for him and Brett in the future. Shot of an electronic board indicating the results of the vote in the House Chambers; of George Keverian (Speaker of the House) presiding proceedings in the House Chambers. George stands outside of the House Chambers. George reports that the vote was 151 to 1 in favor of the proposal. George notes that Keverian picked Brett to draw up the redistricting plan; that Keverian himself was in charge of a previous redistricting plan years ago.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 07/13/1987
Description: Sharon Felzer reports that four groups filed suit against the 1987 redistricting plan for the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Felzer notes that the plaintiffs complain that the plan violates the one-person, one-vote clause of the Constitution and that it does not provide fair minority representation. Felzer adds that the 1987 plan was designed by James Brett (State Representative). Felzer's report includes footage of Brett defending his latest plan in the chambers of the House of Representatives. Felzer interviews Alan Jay Rom (attorney, who criticizes Brett's latest plan. Felzer reports that Rom has drafted his own redistricting plan. Felzer compares the redistricting plans of Brett and Rom. Felzer's report includes footage of African Americans at a polling station and footage of George Keverian (Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives) in the House chambers.
1:00:12: Visual: Footage of James Brett (State Representative) in the chambers of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Brett says that the plan was not put together to please incumbents; that the plan was put together to please the US Federal District Court. Shot of House leadership including George Keverian (Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives) in the House chambers. Maps of the districts are displayed at the front of the House chambers. Sharon Felzer reports that four groups filed suit against last year's House redistricting plan. Felzer reports that the groups complained that the plan violated the one-person, one-vote requirement of the Consitution; that the plan did not provide fair minority representation. Felzer notes that Brett's latest redistricting plan was recently unveiled. V: Shot of an African American man at a polling station; of an African American female poll worker. Footage of Alan Jay Rom (attorney) saying that Brett ignored the principles of the US Constitution when drafting his latest redistricting plan. Felzer reports that the groups who filed the suit want one-third of Boston's seventeen House districts open to minority representation. V: Shots of African Americans walking on a street in Roxbury; of an African American woman waiting for a bus. Felzer reports that Rom has drafted his own redistricting plan for Boston's House districts. Felzer reports that Rom's plan cuts minority representation in the Roxbury district to 80%; that Brett's plan leaves minority representation in the Roxbury district at 96%. V: Shot of a Rom's map of Boston House districts. On-screen text compares details of Rom's proposal with details of Brett's proposal. Footage of Rom saying that Brett's plan violates the Voting Rights Act and the one-person, one-vote principle. Footage of Brett saying that his plan does not disregard minority representation in Boston. Shot of Keverian and House leadership at the front of the House chambers. Felzer reports that five of the state's 160 districts would be either over-represented or under-represented in Brett's plan. Felzer notes that Republicans oppose Brett's plan because it violates the one-peson, one-vote clause. V: Footage of Steven Pierce (State Representative) saying that the federal court will impose a new plan if the House does not draft its own new plan. Shot of Keverian. Felzer stands outside of the House chambers. Felzer reports that Republicans are concerned about the court-imposed injuction on the distribution of nominating papers for House seats; that challengers will not have enough time to circulate their nominating papers before the election deadlines. Felzer reports that the House defeated a Republican amendment to extend the filing of nomination papers. V: Footage of William Galvin (State Representative) saying that signatures are easily obtained for nomination papers. Shots of Keverian at the front of the House chambers; of the roll call board in the House chambers. Felzer reports that the bill now goes to the State Senate; that Rom will request approval of the bill at a court hearing tomorrow. V: Shot of Rom and Felzer looking at Rom's redistricting plan for Boston.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 03/14/1988
Description: Christy George reports on the final redistricting plan for legislative districts of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. State Rep. James Brett drew up an original plan that was challenged by the Massachusetts Republican Party and by the Black Political Task Force. Both groups are fighting for more representation in the legislature. Interviews with State Rep. Byron Rushing and Lloyd King of the Black Political Task Force. Rushing claims a victory for the Black Political Task Force. George discusses whether the new redistricting plan will result in a greater number of Republican and African American representatives. George reports that the Republican Party is worried that Republican challengers will not have enough time to plot campaigns in new districts. Interview with State House Minority Leader Stephen Pierce. Interview with Rep. Brett, who talks about the redistricting plan. Footage from House chambers, including Brett explaining the new plan to his colleagues and Speaker of the House George Keverian, who addresses the House and says, "The law is an ass."
1:00:21: Visual: Shots of traffic on a city street; of scuba divers on a beach. Christy George reports that the population of Boston has been shrinking; that the suburbs south of the city have an increasing population. George reports that James Brett (State Representative) was in charge of a redistricting plan for the Massachusetts House of Representatives; that Dorchester lost a representative while Cape Cod gained one. V: Shots of Brett standing in front of a map detailing the new districts; of a street in Dorchester; of Carver Square in Carver, MA; of a ship passing through the Cape Cod Canal. George reports that Brett's redistricting plan won 159 of 160 votes in the House of Representatives; that all of the African American and Republican representatives voted for the plan. V: Shot of a roll call board of the members of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Shot of Brett entering the chambers of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. George reports that the Republican State Committee and the Black Political Task Force each wanted more seats for their constituents. George notes that both groups had called Brett's original plan unconstitutional because the districts were of uneven size. George adds that Brett's new plan passed easily. V: Shot of African American teenagers standing at the entrance to a building. Shot of Brett in his office, rolling up a map of the new districts. Footage of Byron Rushing (State Representative) saying that the Black Political Task Force scored a major victory; that race should be factored into redistricting plans. George reports from the Massachusetts State House. George speculates as to whether the redistricting plan will result in a greater number of African American and Republican representatives. V: Footage of George Keverian (Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives) saying that the redistricting process is political. Shot of Brett and another lawmaker examining the maps of the new districts. George reports that the original plan protected incumbents and gave Republicans a good chance at winning two new seats. George reports that the new plan still allows Republicans a good chance in those two districts. George notes that the Republican Party is worried that Republican challengers will not have enough time to plot campaigns in the new districts. V: Shot of representatives at the entrance to the House Chambers. Footage of Steven Pierce (Minority Leader, Massachusetts House of Representatives) saying that the redistricting process is working to the advantage of incumbents; that Republican challengers are at a disadvantage. Footage of Lloyd King (Black Political Task Force) saying that he would have liked to have seen the creation of two additional districts for people of color; that he is happy that the redistricting has created one district for people of color. George reports that the redistricting plan divides some communities. George reports that Brett says that the new plan leaves some communities underrepresented. V: Footage of Brett saying that the court did not take into account the number of communities in the state. Brett says that the court ruled that the districts must be equal, according to the number of inhabitants in the state. Footage of Keverian in the House Chambers. Keverian says that "the law is an ass." George reports that the redistricting plan had been tying up legislation in the House; that the House is likely to vote on the transportation bond issue next.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 03/31/1988