The gerrymandering allegations over Pennsylvania’s congressional districts are continuing, even after the Thursday deadline for submissions.
Republican legislators had some harsh words on Friday for Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf and his proposed redistricting map.
“A review of the governor’s submission highlights that it is a partisan endeavor, clearly drawn solely to favor Democrats,” read a joint statement by Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, R-Brockway, and House Speaker Mike Turzai, R-Sewickley. “To achieve this goal, Governor Wolf submitted a map that unnecessarily splits communities and violates federal law, opening the commonwealth up to claims of intentional racial gerrymandering.”
State Rep. Marty Causer, R-Turtlepoint, said, “I firmly believe the governor is doing his best to create chaos.”
He talked about the three branches of government, and said this entire situation violates the Constitution.
“This is the judicial and executive branch trying to take power away from the legislative branch,” Causer said. “The Constitution means something to me, and more and more, I’m not so sure it means much to the governor.”
According to the joint statement from Scarnati and Turzai, the governor’s plan violates federal law by eliminating the state’s only majority-minority district — a district where the majority of the voters are a minority group.
“Using 2014 gubernatorial voting records, when Governor Wolf was the successful candidate, Wolf won 11 of the 18 congressional districts under his plan,” the statement read. “He won nine of the congressional districts in the Scarnati-Turzai joint submission.”
Causer said, “He’s done the same thing he accused us of doing, partisan gerrymandering.”
A page on the governor’s website explains why the administration split the districts the way they did, grouping areas of similar interests and employers. For example, the Fifth District would include Potter, McKean, Cameron, Clinton, Elk, Forest, Venango, Clarion, Butler, Armstrong, Jefferson, Clearfield and parts of Centre counties. The site stated that the district “joins some of the most rural communities in Pennsylvania and is known for its tourism and outdoor assets.”
Causer doesn’t buy it.
“I looked at what he said,” the legislator said of the governor’s explanation. “He pulled the Fifth District clear down into Butler just outside of Pittsburgh. There’s a great amount of politics going on here all under the guise of fair districts.”
The maps that were submitted for consideration will be considered by the state Supreme Court.
“My hope is it will be resolved soon,” Causer said. “All eyes are on the Supreme Court now.”
