Proposed gerrymandering reform threatens accountability

According to the Pennsylvania state Constitution, congressional redistricting is the responsibility of our elected legislature — with all the horse trading that comes with negotiating. The proposed, redrawn districts are then approved by the governor. The process includes multiple datedriven guidelines for aggrieved parties to make a claim to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. If voters are unhappy with their redistricting, they can vote their legislator out. Legislators are accountable to the voters.

The state Constitution does not extend redistricting responsibility to unelected commission members. Redistricting by the Fair Districts PA proposed commission is in direct conflict with the state Constitution, because there is no accountability to the voters with this process. FD-PA disingenuously claims the selection will consider gender, ethnic diversity and political affiliation. A commission member cannot be a paid lobbyist, or a previously elected official, but it’s OK for a union leader to be a member of this commission. Redistricting now be done by amateurs. This is all in clear violation of the state Constitution.

I urge all Pennsylvania citizens to look closely at FD-PA and not be swayed by the utopian language. Who can be against something that is falsely “fair”? The group’s proposal may not even be legal, and it is counterproductive to allow our legislators to be even less accountable than they already are. I applaud the Monroeville and Pitcairn councils for holding this proposal at arm’s length and not endorsing it. I urge my own Rep. Brandon Markosek, D-Monroeville, to withdraw his support for the FD-PA proposal and the Pennsylvania House Bills 22 and 23 that promote its progress. This train needs to be stopped in its tracks, now.

FRED CARLSON Monroeville

The writer is the treasurer for the Monroeville Republican Committee.