From Fair Districts PA (http://www.fairdistrictspa.com):
This week, Senator David Argall brought Senate Bill 222 to a vote in the Senate State Government Committee. His first step in that: an amendment that gutted the bill, removing all mention of legislative redistricting and proposing criteria for congressional districts that the public had not had time to read or test. Within minutes that amendment passed on a party line vote. The bill was then voted out of committee. Total elapsed time: less than twenty minutes.
Since then, mapping advisors have been testing out the Argall criteria and confirming what we suspected: the criteria would not prevent gerrymandering and would give clear advantage to the current majority party. We have voiced strong objection to both the amendment and the process. While we suspect the goal was to move the bill quickly and claim success in passing reform, we have said as loudly as we can: the amended bill is not reform and we do not support it. (See our web post here.)
Both the senate and house have now recessed for the summer without further action. PA legislative leaders have demonstrated yet again: our legislative process is broken.
Fortunately, those same leaders will not have the final word in maps drawn for the next decade. While leaders can propose the congressional map, Governor Wolf can veto it. In a deadlock, the PA Supreme Court can appoint a special master.
The Legislative Reapportionment Commission (LRC) has complete say on PA house and senate maps, with no approval vote by the legislature and no possibility of veto by the governor. That commission is led by a court-appointed chair, Mark Nordenberg. On Friday, he promised to hire an independent mapper and to hold a series of public hearings in July and early August, and again once census data is received.
While we face incredible challenges, we also have an amazing opportunity to shape Pennsylvania’s future. We know there are partisan entities who claim that right for themselves, but we are determined to use every tool and resource available to restore government of, by and for the people of PA.
PS: Our regular monthly conference calls continue on July 1 at 7 pm. Call in: 712-770-5505. Access code: 594190. These calls are for anyone interested in hearing an update on the work of Fair Districts PA and learning more about the redistricting process unfolding in Pennsylvania. There is always time for questions, suggestions and brief discussion. Anyone is welcome to call in. Calls are recorded and posted here.
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