Senate Democratic Leader Offers Plan Which Adheres to Constitutional Mandate
HARRISBURG, December 12, 2011 – – Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) expressed disappointment with the final legislative redistricting plan which was passed by the Legislative Reapportionment Commission today by a 4-1 vote. An amendment introduced by Costa which proposed a more balanced plan was voted down 3-2 along party lines.
The Costa amendment represents a plan which more closely adheres to the constitutional directive to split counties, municipalities, and wards only when absolutely necessary.
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“The commission’s responsibility to keep communities whole wherever possible is one that needs to be taken seriously. Whether they testified in person or submitted their concerns to the commission in writing, people from across the state warned of the negative consequences that splitting townships and even wards could bring,” said Costa. “The number of splits in the Republican plan is a valid cause for concern. I could not in good conscience vote for this highly partisan plan. The best interests of voters are taking a backseat to political interests.”
The Costa amendment varies from the plan approved today in a number of ways:
- It reduces the number of counties split to 23. (The final Republican plan splits 28 counties.)
- Total splits are reduced from 67 to 56 in the Democratic alternative plan. For example, Northampton County is only split twice instead of four times.
- Upper Darby Township and Darby Township are kept whole. The only municipalities which are split in the Democratic plan are Philadelphia and Pittsburgh because it is absolutely necessary.
- There are no ward splits in the City of Pittsburgh.
- Senate District 45 is kept intact to represent the Mon Valley.
- Senate District 35 is made more compact. It no longer stretches from the state’s northern border to its southern border.
- At the directive of the chairman, we moved a western district to Monroe County. Senate District 47 is moved in our plan. It is also improved in its Republican performance.
“We went about this endeavor with the constitutionality and balance of this plan as the primary, motivating objective,” said Costa. “It is not fair to pursue political gain after so many constituents came forth with serious and valid concerns. I am unclear as to what extent public testimony was implemented in the final plan – if at all. Those people should be heard and their input used to create a balanced plan that respects the Pennsylvania Constitution.”
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