Page 4 The Public Record • November 15, 2012
Dems Moan Losses Due To Redistricting by Joe Shaheeli Redistricting federal and state legislative districts is a problem that, in the end, costs taxpayers in several ways. The first is in the pocketbook, when money is spent for lawsuits that occur whenever districts are due for a redrawing based supposedly on population. Secondly, the voting taxpayer will continue to find he or she has no say in how the legislative maps are withdrawn – though in Pennsylvania, a statewide map drawn by a piano teacher did move the State Supreme Court to reject
the General Assembly’s first offering of a redistricting plan mandated by the Census. Thirdly, no matter what, redistricting plans will always be drawn to favor the party controlling the legislative branches up for redistricting. This is not only so in Pennsylvania, but throughout the 50 states. State Sen. Daylin Leach (D-Montgomery) has renewed his call for redistricting reform, following an election where there were eight fewer Democrats elected to Congress from Pennsylvania than Republicans despite Demo-
cratic Party candidates’ earning 75,870 more votes for Congress than Republicans. He said, “The results from the latest congressional election proves partisanship trumps fairness and balance in redistricting and a new process is needed to ensure proper representation. Voters should be electing their representatives. Instead, politicians are handpicking their voters. That’s not democracy.” Congressional maps are redrawn every 10 years by an act of the General Assembly, while the General Assembly is redistricted by a commis-
Rep. Williams Presents Pioneers Award
PAVING way for those yet to come, State Rep. Gary Williams, 197th Dist., hosted his Pioneers Luncheon, honoring eight who have paved the way. Helping Williams in presenting awards were State Sens. Shirley Kitchen and Anthony Williams. Honorees included Adam Bruckner, Elba Torres-Duca, BRAVO Health, Gwendolyn Collins, Gloria Gregory, Gladys Meade, Nellie Reynolds, Rev. Barbara Montague. Awardees not pictured are State. Rep Frank Oliver and Rev. Henry Wells. Photo by Martin Regusters, Leaping Lion Photography
sion of appointed leaders and a fifth member-appointed member. Winning Democratic candidates won by an average more than 185,000 votes, whereas winning Republican candidates won by an average of 55,000 votes. “If this General Election has taught us anything, it’s that the will of the people is much stronger than partisan tactics,” Leach added. “Pennsylvanians deserve a political process that is fair and reflects their best interests, not the interests of one political party. We need to take a long, hard look at how the State determines its districts and reform the process.” Leach has introduced a legislative redistricting reform plan which would expand the membership of the commission and require a supermajority to pass a plan. He said that he is exploring changes that could be made to reapportioning congressional districts to make that process fairer. Odds are he will be frustrated in his effort in the next session of the General Assembly. Leach has introduced a legislative redistricting reform plan which would expand the membership of the commission and require a supermajority to pass a plan. He said that he is exploring changes
STATE REP.-ELECT James Clay, 167th Legislative Dist., 4th from left, took time out from campaigning election day to host, along with Ward Leader Dan Savage, members of UN Observer Team visiting here. that could be made to reapportioning congressional districts to make that process fairer. Odds are he will be frustrated in his effort during the next session of the General Assembly. Leach needs in part to credit Philadelphia’s margins for its 1st, 2nd and 13th Dist. Congress Members’ margins for the overall lopsided figures. A few states have tried to wrest redistricting from control by their state legislature. In 2008, California voters passed a referendum creating an independent citizen commission to handle redistricting. In previous cycles, the two major parties had struck an informal deal protecting incumbents on each side. This time, State Rep.
STATE SENATOR
Kevin J.
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LEANNA M. WASHINGTON
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a group of eight citizen-commissioners held dozens of public meetings to help shape their proposals. Advocates for redistricting reform have praised California, but it’s unclear how much the new system really changed the results. Even here, politics managed to rear its influence. Parties were found setting up fake citizens groups to represent the specific parties’ interests at public meetings, influencing the shape of the districts on the agenda. It’s a sad, but true fact, no single system works for every state. Legislators will work the system to insure they keep their own jobs. Now the US Supreme Court may upend every state’s effort to bring order to mayhem, with its announcement it intends to revisit its 1962 ruling states must redraw their congressional and state legislative districts every 10 years, after release of new (Cont. Next Page)
Councilman Wm.
Greenlee
Room 506 City Hall P. 215-686-3446/7 F. 215-686-1927
State Rep.
William Keller 184th District 1531 S. 2nd Street
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