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Still waiting

CHRIS BASTRESS

Williamsport

Pennsylvania citizens are still waiting for redistricting reform that would restrain partisan gerrymandering, even though state voters overwhelmingly support it.

At the conclusion of a Sept. 18 hearing on redistricting reform, the House Government Committee Chairman, Rep. Garth Everett of the 84th District, said the hearing would be “the first of a number of hearings … on the issue of redistricting.”

We’re still waiting for the next one.

We are also still waiting for House Bills 22 and 23 to move out of the House Government Committee. These bills are sponsored by both Democrats and Republicans (HB22 has 94 sponsors including 20 Republicans; HB 23 has 96 sponsors including 19 Republicans). The bills would create an independent citizens’ commission to redraw congressional and legislative districts following the 2020 census, effectively removing politicians from the mapping process.

These bills have safeguards to keep the process as non-partisan as possible.

During the Sept. 18 hearing, Rep. Everett used language like non-partisan, every vote is equal, not breaking up districts for political purpose, and that everyone’s goal should be voters having faith in the maps.

We’re still waiting for the actions that make that language meaningful.

But wait, to Rep. Everett’s credit, the House passed much-needed election reform and the House Government Committee moved legislation limiting legislative gifts. But on the last day of the session before the holidays, without public notice or input, the House passed HB 196, a bill that would create judicial districts for the election of appellate and Supreme Court justices, creating one more opportunity for politicians to gerrymander the vote.

Tired of waiting for redistricting reform? Email, write, call or visit Rep. Everett, or Rep. Jeff Wheeland and insist that HB 22 and 23 be moved out of committee and onto the House floor for a vote.

Before we start creating new districts, let’s make sure the districts we have are fair!

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