Model bill dangerous

A “republic” is a government that allows its people to elect representatives who make their laws. However, this now may be up for grabs. At the recent meeting of ALEC ( American Legislative Exchange Council) a “model bill” was submitted that would repeal the 17th Amendment, which gives the people of a state the right to choose their U. S. senators.

At a time when gerrymandering ( the manipulation of district boundaries to favor one party over another) in states like Pennsylvania has allowed Democrats, who won 54 percent of the vote, to only take five of the 18 U. S. House seats ( 28 percent) in 2012. In 2014 the Republicans won 55 percent of the vote, but they got 13 of the state’s 18 seats ( 72 percent).

How did district boundaries become so lopsided to allow such a flagrant thwarting of representation? It’s because these boundaries were drawn by the state legislature controlled by, you guessed it, Republicans.

According to ALEC’s model bill, these same state legislatures will be the ones to pick our U. S. senators. Republicans had found the way to skew congressional district lines to win more House seats than they deserve, but they were stymied by the U. S. Senate where senators are elected statewide. Now, if they are successful in promoting this “model bill,” they will be able to guarantee themselves majorities in the Senate as well. Let’s not let this happen! AIMEE CROCHET

West Fork