‘It’s time.’ Fair Districts PA pushes for redistricting reform in drive-by protest
Officials returned to the state legislature this week, and members of Fair Districts PA want to make sure they don’t forget about proposed changes to Pennsylvania redistricting laws.
The proposed legislation seeks to put an end to gerrymandering — the manipulation of electoral boundaries for political advantage — which has been contested at local, state and national levels for years. Pennsylvania is ranked as one of the most gerrymandered states, and Fair Districts PA, a nonpartisan coalition, wants to rectify this problem.
In a drive-by protest held Tuesday in Bellefonte, Fair Districts members reminded Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman, R-Benner Township, who was in-session in Harrisburg, that “corrupt” redistricting guidelines haven’t disappeared amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’re here because we want a vote,” Joanne Santamaria said before the protest began. “It’s time.”
For 15 minutes, more than 10 cars — covered in signs, banners and slogans — honked their horns while circling Corman’s Match Factory office, calling for an end to gerrymandering.
In 2018, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that the 2011 congressional district map — drawn by Republicans and signed into law in 2011 by then Republican Gov. Tom Corbett — was in violation of the state constitution, so the court redrew the map and issued a new one.
With this change, Centre County was redrawn into the 15th and 12th districts, with the majority of the area falling into the 15th, but much of State College and the southeastern part of the county reside in the 12th District, which includes Clinton, Mifflin and Juniata counties.
Fair Districts calls that a “short-term fix” to a problem that will likely repeat itself — unless elected officials vote for legislation that would eliminate politicians from the redistricting process.
Two proposed bills aim to create a fair drawing system — Senate Bills 1023 and 1022. If approved, the bills would amend the election code to create an independent citizens’ commission to handle congressional and legislative redistricting. The legislation would also leave room for public input before districts are approved.
Similar legislation was proposed in 2018, and Corman voted in favor of the bill, but said the House was not satisfied with how it was organized. Heading into the 2021 redistricting cycle, Corman said he would vote in favor of legislation that would prohibit gerrymandering but said compromise might be necessary for the House to pass the bills.
Fair Districts members said they are tired of elected officials passing blame and compromising on legislation that would resolve a longstanding gerrymandering problem.
Tobin Short, Fair Districts member, said the government made funds available and took action quickly to help support citizens, businesses and local entities affected by the coronavirus.
“If they want something done, they can do it in minutes,” Short said. “It’s all about priorities, and we’re trying to make this an important priority. It’s at the core of the problem with our democracy — it is not democratic for politicians to select their own districts.”
Although Tobin appreciates state officials are dealing with several pressing issues, gerrymandering is not a new problem, he said.
“Sen. Corman has long supported changing the process by which districts are drawn both for state government and members of Congress. He has been very clear that he does not believe in the status quo, but rather wants to give power back to the people,” spokeswoman Jennifer Kocher said Tuesday. “The Senate has passed bills to do just that in the past and remains open to doing so, but nothing will become law without finding common ground with the House.”
The Senate will conclude its session at the end of June. The bills were referred to the state government committee Jan. 31, and a vote has not been scheduled at this time.
“Two bills have been sitting there for months, and Corman has not made a move,” Short said. “They’re sitting in committee. We can’t even get a vote; I don’t care if they turn it down. I want a vote.”
This story was originally published June 9, 2020 at 3:17 PM.
