Harrisburg – February 15, 2018 – Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) released the following statement concerning the submission of a congressional redistricting plan to the state Supreme Court.
Senate Democrats submitted the plan following the court’s ruling that declared the 2011 maps unconstitutional. The Supreme Court gave the General Assembly until Feb. 9 to present a constitutional plan to the governor. Instead, Republican leaders submitted their own plan to the governor.
Costa’s statement follows:
“Senate Democrats submitted an excellent congressional redistricting plan to the court today. It meets the key elements of constitutionality identified by the court. The plan includes far less municipal splits than the Republican submission or the 2011 plan, adheres to the requirements of the Voting Rights Act and eliminates voter confusion by not moving any incumbent member of Congress who is seeking re-election this year or anyone who is involved in a special election.
“The previous map that was thrown out by the court was a jumbled mess that made no sense to the voters and was generally thought to be the worst congressional gerrymander in the country. The map Senate Democrats sent to the court today rectifies the many problems that were identified by the court and independent observers and is far superior to the map submitted by Republican leadership.”
Highlights of the Senate Democratic map:
- The map produced by Senate Democrats contains far fewer subdivision spits than either the Senate Republican submission or the 2011 plan.
- The 2011 map contained 172 splits, while the Senate Republicans’ contained 62 splits of counties, municipalities, wards and precincts. The Senate Democratic map includes only 55 splits.
- The Senate Democratic map’s districts are nearly equal in population and satisfies the requirements of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
- The map retains a nearly identical composition of African-American and Latino populations in Pennsylvania’s 1st District while the 2nd District keeps the percentage of African-American voters relative to the 2011 plan constant.
- The Senate Democratic plan is far better than other plans on the measures of compactness identified by the court.
- In order to prevent voter confusion in this election cycle, the plan does not move any incumbent member of Congress who is seeking re-election.
-30-
Download Democratic Map →
Harrisburg, Pa. − February 13, 2018 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa fully supports Governor Wolf’s decision to reject the maps presented to him last week by just two Republican members.
“A proposal that makes districts slightly more compact but no more fair or representative fails to meet the requirements set forth by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court,” said Senator Costa. “This is unfortunately yet another gerrymandered overreach that cannot be used. I’m glad that Governor Wolf agrees and has rejected the proposal.”
Governor Wolf’s administration hired an expert to review the proposed map by the Republican leadership, and found it “extremely, and unnecessarily, partisan.”
Professor Dunchin, the statistical expert, found that there was no more than a .1 percent chance that any plan drafted to comply with the state Supreme Court’s order could have been as favorable to Republicans as they one they shared with the Governor last Friday night.
“We could have had an open, bipartisan process and debate in the creation of a new map through legislation,” said Senator Costa. “Unfortunately, that was not what the Republican leaders wanted and now we will use our limited time before the February 15th deadline to find another solution.”
The original decision in this case by the state Supreme Court indicated that if the legislature failed to produce a plan that the Governor agreed to, that it would initiate its own map creation and distribute a completed product by Monday, February 19.
###
Harrisburg – Dec. 1, 2014 – State Sen. Jay Costa (D- Allegheny) said today that he was excited to begin serving citizens in the newly configured 43rd Senate District.
“As a result of reapportionment, all Senate districts in Pennsylvania were redrawn to adjust to changes in population,” Costa said. “The district was reconfigured within Allegheny County and includes the largest portion of the City of Pittsburgh as well as communities in the Steel Valley and the East Hills.”
The new district alignments took effect today.
Costa said that his local offices are well-positioned to serve the new areas of the district and build relationships just as he has done in municipalities that remain in the district. His district offices are located in Forest Hills, Carrick and Homestead.
“I am very proud of the constituent service that is provided by the staff in our district offices and how they reach out to solve problems,” Costa said. “I look forward to working with community leaders and building rapport with citizens in the new sections of our district.”
Costa said that he conducts many local events including town halls, shredding events, veterans outreach, flu shot clinics and provides specific services.
The district now includes Mt. Oliver and the following wards in the City of Pittsburgh: 4, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 29 and 31. Also included in the district are Munhall, Homestead, West Homestead, Whitaker, and Rankin in the Steel Valley. The East Hills communities are Oakmont, Verona, Penn Hills, Churchill, Wilkinsburg, Braddock Hills, Forest Hills, Chalfant, Swissvale, Wilkins Township and Edgewood.
-30-
Harrisburg – May 8, 2013 – State Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) released the following statement on the decision of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to uphold the legislative redistricting plan:
“The approval of the redistricting plan by the state Supreme Court is disappointing. We believe that we successfully argued that a fair map, one that includes far fewer municipality, county and community splits, could be created. Our arguments and rationale were consistent and constructive throughout the process.
“Our belief is that the map approved by the commission is partisan and only serves narrow, partisan political interests. We believe there are better alternatives and we offered those during the long reapportionment process.
“However Senate Democrats recognize that the court has now ruled and that it is time to move on in crafting policies that serve all the citizens of Pennsylvania.”
-30-
“The Supreme Court said that the Reapportionment Commission has more work to do. And, we agree.
The court has required a plan with fewer splits, more compact and contiguous districts, and, that while population deviation is a consideration, it is equal to other constitutional provisions. Importantly, the court emphasized that splits of political subdivisions should be avoided unless “absolutely necessary.”
The commission needs to get to work and proceed mindfully and cooperatively with respect for citizen input, the constitutional provisions regarding fairness and equity and the court’s guidance. As the Supreme Court held, the LRC must draw lines that respect the language in the Constitution.
We have to do it right this time. This is an opportunity to draw districts reflecting the court’s guidance or citizens will, once again, legitimately challenge the plan’s legality. A new plan should not be rammed through the process, without due consideration for what the court has said about redistricting.
The Supreme Court has emphasized that the statewide district map of the General Assembly must respect our citizens.”
