Posted: | December 7, 2012 11:39 AM |
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From: | Senator Lisa M. Boscola |
To: | All Senate members |
Subject: | Congressional redistricting process |
In the near future, I plan to reintroduce a joint resolution that seeks to amend our state’s Congressional redistricting process, and I invite you to join me as a co-sponsor. This resolution calls for a Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Bureau to be established within the Commonwealth. The Bureau will consist of a panel whose members do not hold any political or party office. Additionally, this legislation will encourage the use of mapping software in the redistricting process. This proposal is similar to the redistricting model that is currently used in the state of Iowa. It aims to take partisanship and politics out of the reapportionment and redistricting process altogether. The current system allows lawmakers to have a hand in drawing their own districts, an outright conflict of interest that gives an advantage to an incumbent legislator or political party. Districts need to be drawn in a responsible manner, not under political or party influence. This is a reintroduction of Senate Bill 650 from the previous legislative session. Co-sponsors included BRUBAKER, WASHINGTON, FONTANA, FERLO,KITCHEN, LEACH, SOLOBAY, YUDICHAK, BREWSTER, FARNESE, BLAKE,BAKER, FOLMER AND EARLL |
Introduced as SB361