Share:
Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2015 - 2016
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 8, 2015 04:32 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Lisa M. Boscola |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Legislative and Congressional Redistricting Process (Citizen's Commission) |
| In the near future, I intend to introduce a joint resolution that seeks to amend our state’s Constitution by reforming the way legislative and congressional districts are drawn, and I invite you to join me as a co-sponsor. This legislation calls for the establishment of a Citizen’s Redistricting Commission to achieve true independence in our redistricting process. The Commission shall consist of registered Pennsylvania voters that do not presently hold public office or are employed by a public official. The panel will be comprised of 5 registered Democrats, 5 registered Republicans, and 4 with other party affiliation. 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. The legislation will require the final version of the Commission’s map to be approved by the voters. This proposal is similar to the redistricting model that is currently used in the state of California. It aims to produce a redistricting process that is independent from legislative or political influence. |
Introduced as SB484