A new congressional map submitted to Gov. Tom Wolf Friday evening shows the Fifth District as being larger –– and retaining a Republican majority.
Pennsylvania General Assembly just made the deadline to submit a new congressional district map, a move that Sen. Joe Scarnati, R-Brockway, and Speaker of the House Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny, say fully complies with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s order and opinion. The state Supreme Court ruled in a recent case that the congressional district boundaries in Pennsylvania “clearly, plainly and palpably” violate the state’s constitution.
The proposed map for the Fifth District includes all of Tioga County and Bradford County and part of Mifflin and Lycoming counties and removes Huntingdon and Erie counties.
“This map minimizes split counties and county segments, and minimizes the number of political subdivisions split,” according to Scarnati’s website.
The proposal includes 15 split counties, 13 less than the 2011 plan, and only 17 split municipalities, 49 less than the 2011 plan.
“This map, for population equality purposes splits only one precinct per municipality for a total of 17, and represents a significant reduction from the 27 precincts split in the 2002 map and the 26 precincts split in the 2011 Plan,” website said. “In compliance with federal law with respect to population deviations, no district is over or underpopulated by more than one person.”
Currently, Republicans control 12 congressional districts, while Democrats control five. U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson, R-State College, represents the Fifth, which includes McKean, Elk, Cameron and Potter counties.
Earlier Friday, before the map was submitted to Wolf, Rep. Martin Causer, R-Turtlepoint, said lawmakers were doing their best to follow the court order, but he said he believes the order by the justices is unconstitutional. He said that the move infringes upon the separation of powers and violates the United States Constitution, which specifically allows the legislature the authority to draw congressional districts.
“The court ruling giving the General Assembly just three weeks to complete a task that typically takes close to a year was made even more challenging by the fact the court issued its full opinion just two days ago,” he said.
Common Cause Pennsylvania said that of Pennsylvania’s 18 congressional districts, only two districts are composed of a majority of people of color –– the 1st congressional district and the 2nd congressional district in southeastern Pennsylvania.
“Common Cause believes voters should choose their representatives, not the other way around,” said Micah Sims, executive director of Common Cause Pennsylvania. “We need to create better ways to draw legislative districts that fairly represent Pennsylvania’s communities, including our state’s racial diversity. That’s the only way we can be sure all voters truly have a voice on issues that matter most to them.”
