Schwarzenegger says it’s an issue he’s championed since he was elected – and he’ll chair the campaign:

 “I will be traveling up and down the state and I will be collecting signatures and I will be doing everything possible to make this initiative pass.”

Under the measure, a 14-member citizens’ commission would draw the district lines for state legislative races and the board of equalization.  Right now lawmakers draw them.  But legislators would continue to draw the congressional districts under the proposal.  Steve Maviglio with the Democratic Assembly Speaker’s Office is critical:

“They made a political decision to exclude congress when the pretend to be above politics.  We don’t think that’s the right direction.”

Maviglio says Democratic lawmakers are still hoping to push redistricting reform through the legislature.