Demographic Analysis, Redistricting

Pennsylvania Redistricting Reform

The Pennsylvania Legislature has been battling the last couple of weeks over the first step towards approval of a state constitutional amendment that would put redistricting in the hands of an independent non-partisan body. The legislature has to approve the bill in two different session and and put it towards a statewide popular vote in order for it to pass and apply to the 2010 Pennsylvania redistricting.

A lot has been said back and forth about Babette Josephs (D-Philadelphia) chairman of the Pennsylvania House Government Committee and her role in the matter. As chair of the committee she wields the ability to block the legislation from going to the house floor, and has done so. This article at the Pocono Record includes a general summary of the events. Because of her actions, controversy has brewed throughout the state’s media. Below are some of the things written for and against the proposal:

Against the Reform Bill:

  1. Letter from Babette Josephs at the Pennsylvania House website justifying her actions
  2. Letter to the Pocono Record
  3. Letter to the editor (top one) in the Philadelphia Inquirer
  4. Kill Gerrymandering in PA (A website dedicated to the reform bill, but includes copy of form letters from Rep. Josephs to constituents writing about the issue)

Editorials or opinions in favor of the reform:

  1. Citizens Voice – Wilkes-Barre, PA
  2. Centre Daily Times - State College, PA
  3. Press Release – Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell
  4. Common Cause and the League of Woman Voters (via Morning Call – Allentown, PA)
  5. Pocono Record – Stroudsburg PA
  6. Columnist and Editorial at the Philadelphia Inquirer and – Philadelphia, PA
5 Responses to “Pennsylvania Redistricting Reform”

  1. [...] Florida constitution on the ballot in 2010 (these organizations joined forces for the same cause in Pennsylvania). In an effort to create a more level playing field for potential candidates and voters and to make [...]

    by » Florida Redistricting Reform Efforts The Rose Report: The Rose Institute of State and Local Government
    on 16. Jun, 2008

  2. [...] Inquirer Editorial on Redistricting A recent editorial in the Philadelphia Inquirer about Pennsylvania’s redistricting reform battle mainly consisted of these two [...]

    by » Philadelphia Inquirer Editorial on Redistricting The Rose Report: The Rose Institute of State and Local Government
    on 17. Jun, 2008

  3. [...] the full Senate. It will not mean much, however, unless the comparable bill in the Assembly is not held in committee. One Senator pointed out that the bill as it currently stands effectively has a loophole: Sen. Jake [...]

    by » Pennsylvania Redistricting Bill Makes it Out of Senate Committee The Rose Report: The Rose Institute of State and Local Government
    on 18. Jun, 2008

  4. [...] Inquirer’s editorial focuses on the redistricting reform effort in Pennsylvania: As you can imagine, the power to guarantee themselves great jobs means it will be hard to pry this [...]

    by » Editorials on Redistricting The Rose Report: The Rose Institute of State and Local Government
    on 27. Jun, 2008

  5. [...] in the state. The plan’s creators include Rep. Babette Josephs, D-Philadelphia, who has previously been the main obstacle to redistricting reform in the state. The plan would essentially create guidelines as to how the [...]

    by » Pennsylvnia Legislators Create Watered Down Redistricting Plan The Rose Report: The Rose Institute of State and Local Government
    on 24. Jul, 2008

Leave a Reply