Stay Informed!

Josephs, Samuelson work together to make redistricting more transparent

HARRISBURG, July 4 – State Reps. Babette Josephs and Steve Samuelson are joining to develop legislation that would reform the redistricting process for 2011.

Redistricting or reapportionment is the method by which Pennsylvania legislative and congressional districts are redrawn every 10 years, based on the state's population figures obtained from the U.S. Census. The next reapportionment is slated for 2011.

The legislators' partnership comes after weeks of dialogue between the two, who, along with colleagues, have come to agree that the process could be improved in specific areas to make it less partisan in time for 2011.

"Representative Samuelson and I are developing legislation that would positively impact the upcoming legislative reapportionment process that will soon be upon us. This will give the legislature time to deliberately and with forethought look at the process and reshape it, if needed, for all other reapportionments thereafter," said Josephs, House State Government Committee chairwoman. "We have a strong desire to see the process reformed, not only for 2011, but for each decennial event."

"Our goal is to take the politics out of the redistricting process," Samuelson said. "Changing the way districts are drawn in Pennsylvania to an open and nonpartisan process is a reform that will have lasting impact, and our plans are to make that happen."

Josephs has reluctantly concluded that without the backing of the Senate, which has indicated an unwillingness to bring a committee-passed redistricting bill up for a full vote, especially when two of its Republican leaders opposed the bill in committee, there is not enough time to complete all of the steps needed for a constitutional amendment to structurally change legislative reapportionment.

Therefore, Josephs and Samuelson have agreed to draft and advance legislation that would make the upcoming redistricting process more transparent while giving specific guidelines for the existing Legislative Reapportionment Commission to follow when drawing districts.

They said the bill would make the process more open and transparent by strengthening the public comment process and requiring more statewide hearings at all stages of developing the redistricting map. It also would require data and information to be made available online.

Other key provisions would include rules for making districts compact and keeping counties and municipalities intact where at all possible without ignoring the "one person, one vote" rule.

Also, Josephs noted that Rep. Jake Wheatley has written about the need to consider minority representation when developing redistricting proposals. She strongly agrees with him that this should be used as a factor in redistricting.

"While I am disappointed that House Bill 2420 will not be considered at this time, I am pleased that we have reached a workable compromise to reform a process that desperately needs it," Samuelson said. "Redistricting has become too politicized. Making the process more open and accessible to the public will go a long way to correcting that problem."

Josephs said that they will seek a commitment from all four caucus leaders to help push these legislative measures through the General Assembly, and she has committed herself to making sure that the legislature starts early enough on further changes to affect the 2021 redistricting. She is asking supporters of redistricting reform to do their part, as well.

"I encourage redistricting advocates to initiate a major effort to educate the public," she said. "There is too much misinformation and faulty beliefs regarding the issue. For example, most citizens have no idea that there are two distinct redistricting systems: one for state elected officials and another for Congress. Without an informed public, there can be no worthwhile public policies."

Josephs and Samuelson said they expect to formally introduce the legislation later this summer and will hold public hearings.

###agh/2008/jma
l:'print'releases'redistrictagree.182