New Pa. Legislative Districts a Done Deal

Panel approves final state House and Senate redistricting plan

New legislative districts for Pennsylvania have won final approval.

The Legislative Reapportionment Commission voted 4-1 Monday to approve a Republican-crafted map for the 50 Senate districts and a map of 203 House districts that carries bipartisan support.

The panel's approval is all that's required for the changes to take effect, although they could be appealed to the state Supreme Court.

The five-member panel includes the floor leaders from both chambers and an appointed chairman, Stephen McEwen, a senior Superior Court judge who is the panel's third Republican member.

The dissenting vote was cast by Senate Democratic leader Jay Costa, whose alternative Senate plan was rejected on a 3-2 party-line vote.

The approved maps included revisions Senate Republicans made public last week.

The changes in the House map include moving a district from Lackawanna County to Monroe County -- bringing the total districts being moved to five. The changes also will increase the number of districts with Hispanic majorities.

Senate Republicans revised their plan last week and re-crafted the central Pennsylvania district of Sen. Jeffrey Piccola.

Plans to reveal the map for revised Pennsylvania congressional districts was put on hold on Monday. The delay drew criticism from state Democratic party leaders.

In a release sent out on Monday, Democrats accused state Republicans of delaying the process to prevent citizens from weighing in on the decision.

From the Penssylvania Democratic press release: “The lack of transparency and public engagement is especially disconcerting because the Republicans are looking to split up communities, including Erie County, NEPA, and the Lehigh Valley, to gerrymander their way to safer Republican seats. The people of those communities should have a say in whether or not they will be split.” 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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