Redistricting mess focuses attention on reform bills

By Robert Swift (Harrisburg Bureau Chief)
Published: February 1, 2012

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HARRISBURG - Reformers hope the political no-man's land created by the state Supreme Court's rejection of a reapportionment plan will be a catalyst for a nonpartisan approach to redrawing state legislative districts the next time around.

Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-18, Lower Saucon Twp., has sponsored bills for at least a decade to handle reapportionment without regard to the residences of incumbent lawmakers or voting trends. Her current bill would put the redrawing of both state legislative and congressional seats in the hands of a bureau operating under set guidelines. The plan would go to the General Assembly for approval.

The fallout from last week's court order rejecting the reapportionment plan approved by a commission of four legislative leaders and a fifth court-appointed chairman has Boscola looking for an opportunity to move her bill.

While an opinion outlining the court's objections to the plan is awaited, scenarios advanced in Harrisburg cover the gamut from having state legislative candidates run in the districts the way they currently exist while a revised plan is drawn to holding separate primaries for state legislative seats and the statewide offices, Congress and presidential convention delegates.

"I'm hoping this starts the outrage where people think it has to change," said Boscola. "It is so critical that 10 years from now we have to do this differently."

The key to Boscola's bill is guidelines requiring the bureau to draw districts based on population equality, communities of interest, compactness and keeping municipalities intact. The bill is based on a system Iowa has used for decades.

"You can't use the address of the incumbent legislator," added Boscola.

Sen. John Yudichak, D-14, Nanticoke, supports the bill. He said it would address a situation where both parties have used reapportionment for political gain.

"This is one area in the last 40 years we have not seen any progress with reform," added Mr. Yudichak.

The existing Legislative Reapportionment Commission is the result of a state constitutional amendment adopted in the 1960s.

As a proposed constitutional amendment, Boscola's bill would require approval in two consecutive sessions of the General Assembly and by statewide voters.

"We have 10 years to get it passed," said Yudichak referring to the next reapportionment in 2021.

Contact the writer: rswift@timesshamrock.com

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