Fighting gerrymandering in PA

[DeminPennswoods]

Yes, there is a group fighting to reverse the ridiculous gerry-mandering in our state.

Story: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20170226_The_gerrymander_slayer__Meet_PA_s_grandma_on_a_mission.html

Website Fair Districts PA: https://www.fairdistrictspa.com/

[LisaM]

1. Exactly! In all the states Hillary lost by razor-thin margins

gerrymandering was a big issue. (Among other things, it can affect how many and location of polling places). I keep arguing that we did have the better message, but voter suppression tactics and other shenanigans rig the system.

That led me to learning about the political process, which led to learning about gerrymandering, and that led to experts telling me, "Pick your issue, until we fix gerrymandering we're not fixing anything."

[FakeNoose]

2. Thanks - really glad to know about this

I'm in Pittsburgh, but this info is still helpful.
Pennsylvania has to become more voter-friendly, and this is a good start.

[DeminPennswoods]

3. There's lots of good stuff at the website

You can request someone from the organization to speak to your group. Seems like that might be right up the alley of Indivisible and other groups.

[bronxiteforever]

4. Went to the meeting in Harrisburg last night!

Great to see a post on the movement. Pa GOP has a death lock on the houses due to gerrymander. They love the free market but Lordy do they hate competition for their right wing views.

[DeminPennswoods]

5. Fair District PA presentation 3/12 in Pgh

Details from link at qv4goodness facebook page:

Location: Kearns Spirituality Center

Category:
Western Region

Description

On Sunday, March 12, 2017 at 3:00 p.m. the Pittsburgh North People for Peace will host an educational event on Gerrymandering in PA, the Problem and a Solution. Suzanne Broughton, a speaker for Fair Districts PA, will conduct the program at the:

Kearns Spirituality Center
A Ministry of the Sisters of Divine Providence
9000 Babcock Blvd., Pittsburgh 15237 (Town of McCandless)
(next to La Roche College)

The objective of Fair Districts PA is to educate voters as to the detrimental effects of the current partisan process for drawing Pennsylvania legislative and congressional districts and how we can advocate for the establishment of an independent redistricting commission.

For more information:
Email: [e-mail]
Phone: [phone]

Link to Map


Contact: Pittsburgh North People for Peace
Email: pghnpeopleforpeace-at-gmail.com
Phone: [phone]

[FakeNoose]

6. +1 Thanks

[DeminPennswoods]

7. Front page, above the fold, Sat Pgh Post-Gazette

A front page story about the fairdistrictspa.com in today's Pgh Post-Gazette.

Link: http://www.post-gazette.com/early-returns/erstate/2017/03/18/redistricting-pennsylvania-problems-gerrymandering-congress/stories/201703180078

[DeminPennswoods]

8. Update on redistricting

There are now 2 companion bills in the state legislature to create a non-partisan, independent redistricting commission.

HB 722 (state house) currently has 93 (of 203) co-sponsors. They can be found here:
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2017&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=722

SB 22 (state senate) currently has 13 (of 50) co-sponsors. They can be found here:
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2017&sind=0&body=S&type=B&bn=22

If your state rep or state senator isn't one of the co-sponsors, give them a call and let them know they should support the appropriate bill.

These bills must be passed no later than July 1, 2018 in order to be introduced and passed a second time in order to make the ballot as a referendum/ballot question before the 2020 Census re-districting.

[DeminPennswoods]

9. League of Women Voters just filed a lawsuit

to have the state courts throw out the current congressional map. They didn't file before now because they wanted a couple of election cycles to prove their claim of extreme political gerrymandering.

Interestingly a CMU prof ran a program that randomly swapped census tracts and each time created more competitive districts, showing that the districts were knowingly designed to produce wins for one party each and every time regardless.

http://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2017/06/15/League-of-women-voters-lawsuit-gerrymandering-Pennsylvania-Congressional-district-map/stories/201706150182

[DeminPennswoods]

10. Speaker event 7/31 @ Beaver (PA) Memorial Library

If you're interested and in the area, the Beaver County chapter of FAIRDISTRICTSPA is holding an informational meeting on gerrymandering. Craig Hammond of Fair Districts PA will speak about gerrymandering and how it dilutes your/our vote(s).

The meeting will be held at the Beaver, Pa, Memorial Library, 100 College Ave, Beaver, Pa 15009. Date and time are Monday, July 31 at 6PM.

Link:https://www.fairdistrictspa.com/events/2017/07/31/learn-how-to-make-your-vote-count

[DeminPennswoods]

11. Update: PA Senate schedules hearing on SB22

The state senate has scheduled a hearing this week on SB 22, the FairdistrictsPA-supported bill to create a non-partisan citizens committee for redistricting.

The state house version of the bill is still stuck in Daryl Metcalfe's committee, but there is a rule similar to the US House's discharge petition where if over half the state house members vote agree, the bill can be taken out of committee and be voted on. Currently the bill, HB 722, has 109 co-sponsors which is over half the state reps needed (102 of 203).

Both bills need to be passed into law by the end of this legislative session in order to be on the ballot in time for the 2020 redistricting.