From Fair Districts PA (http://www.fairdistrictspa.com):
Across America and Pennsylvania, voters are sending a clear message: the unaccountable “politics-as-usual” that empowers insider interests at the expense of everyday citizens is unacceptable. The partisan manipulation of legislative districts behind closed doors denies the people a voice in their own representation and their right to hold politicians accountable on Election Day. In fact, a growing number of candidates now run unopposed.
When legislators get to pick their voters, rather than the other way around, Pennsylvanians get uncompetitive districts that empower the fringes on both sides of the aisle and gridlocks our government. Legislators find themselves listening more to party leadership than to voters. In a January 2016 poll of registered voters, 82% responded that Pennsylvania’s state government needs reform. Pennsylvania is at the epicenter of political gerrymandering run amok, and Pennsylvania citizens are paying for it.
Fair Districts PA came together in January 2016 when good-government advocates realized that they needed to work together more effectively to support voters demanding change to the redistricting process. In the 2015-2016 and previous legislative sessions, reform-minded legislators introduced legislation with bipartisan sponsorship. Fair Districts PA is leading the effort to get this legislation passed.
Redistricting reform has bipartisan support in both the PA House and Senate, where in 2017 legislation will be reintroduced to establish an independent citizens’ redistricting commission that removes legislators and party officials from the process. A unique opportunity exists NOW to get this done before 2021. But we need your help to ensure it happens.
Leadership of Fair Districts PA is provided by the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania and Common Cause PA, with member organizations from all sides of the political spectrum and all corners of the state. The FairDistrictsPA.com website provides background, action ideas, and news on this effort.
Fair Districts PA to Form a Central PA Working Group
We are forming working groups around the state to inform voters about this issue and to put pressure on elected Pennsylvania House and Senate members to vote for bills that will be reintroduced in 2017. You are getting this message because you reside in central Pennsylvania and are a member League of Women Voters, Common Cause PA, other organizations affiliated with Fair Districts PA, or have given your name and email address through FairDistrictsPA.com.
We are aware of solid silent-majority support for reform. What we need now is hands-on action, especially during the first half of 2017. Please come to a meeting in central PA to form a regional working group. This group will identify and act upon opportunities to engage the public, as well as ensure that all legislators are well informed of the arguments for reform. We have presentations and handouts, as well as self-training tools for you to use. Please step up with whatever commitment you can make. Maybe you can write letters/articles, speak, organize, raise money, or simply advocate informally. Maybe you are not yet sure of how you might support the effort – that is why you should attend the meeting. No effort or talent is too small. Ultimately, we hope that new leaders will emerge to broaden and strengthen the effort.
DATE & TIME: Tuesday, November 15, 2016; 7:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Round the Clock Diner, Route 30/83 Location, 222 Arsenal Rd, York, PA
RSVP: If you are able to attend, please reply to Diana Dakey at ddakey@comcast.net so that we have sufficient chairs and handouts. If you cannot attend this date or location but are interested in helping the effort, please also let us know. We expect to have future meetings at locations determined to work the best for those involved.
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