SACRAMENTO, CA — California Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Allan Zaremberg today released the following statement on the approval of the final redistricting maps:

“The CalChamber has long believed that fair redistricting is the key to meaningful political reform. That is why the CalChamber co-chaired the campaign in support of Proposition 11, which allowed the citizens of California—rather than the legislators—to draw legislative districts, thereby eliminating the inherent conflict of interest in the current system.  Although there is room for improvement, Proposition 11 created a result better than had the legislators drawn their own lines.

“We look forward to working with stakeholders and commissioners to improve the process for the future. It is clear that future commissions can do better. For example, the Senate maps should have been nested and the commission should have produced more versions of statewide draft maps for public comment.”

The 2012 elections will be the first to reflect the redrawing of districts that will be in place through 2020. The new maps coupled with the top two open primary system, which starts in June 2012, will create more competitive general elections to help elect more pro-jobs legislators.