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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2017 - 2018
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | April 18, 2017 02:17 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Steve Samuelson and Rep. Eric Roe |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | HB 722 - Establishing an Independent Redistricting Commission in Pennsylvania |
| In the near future, we will be introducing a joint resolution – House Bill 722 – to amend the Pennsylvania Constitution by establishing an Independent Redistricting Commission to provide a nonpartisan process for redistricting in the Commonwealth for State Senate, State House and Congressional districts. Under our legislation, the Independent Redistricting Commission tasked to draw boundary lines will not be beholden to incumbent politicians or political parties. Our proposal ensures that State Legislative and Congressional districts are drawn in a fair and impartial manner. This legislation was developed in conjunction with Fair Districts PA, which is a statewide coalition that includes the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania, Common Cause Pennsylvania, the Committee of Seventy, the Pennsylvania Council of Churches and more than 20 other organizations. According to a recent study by the Electoral Integrity Project (EIP), Pennsylvania ranks third worst in the nation for the fairness of its electoral boundaries – only Wisconsin and North Carolina scored worse. When politicians manipulate district lines to benefit themselves and their parties, the public always loses. In the spirit of bicameral and bipartisan collaboration, Senate Bill 22 was recently introduced in the State Senate as a companion bill to this legislation. It is time that we end gerrymandering and join a growing list of states that conduct reapportionment in a fair and nonpartisan manner. We hope that you will join us in cosponsoring this important piece of legislation. |
Introduced as HB722