Making a fair legislative map is possible when parties face risk

The solution to making a fair map of Pennsylvania’s congressional districts can be a simple one. Look no further than Major League Baseball’s way of handling arbitration cases for the answer. Here’s howit could work:

1. One month prior to the deadline, both the Republicans and Democrats would be required to submit map proposals to an independent committee made up of three people with no political affiliation. The committee will be charged with reviewing and choosing one of the maps. This incentivizes both parties to each submit a fair map at the risk of having the opposition party’s map chosen.

2. While the independent committee deliberates the merits of both maps over the 30-day period, the Republicans and Democrats will be allowed to meet together in order to develop a map both can agree upon. If they succeed, that map then becomes the one used to determine the district borders. If they cannot reach agreement, the independent committee then chooses one of the two maps submitted earlier.

With this plan, both parties are involved in the process, not just the ruling party. Both parties are forced to be fair, otherwise they can suffer great consequences.

In fact, this same framework can be used in other contract negotiations, such as with teachers, police, firefighters and other government unions. DENNIS FISCHER

Hampton