Here’s a way to handcuff the gerrymander in Pa.

As good-government types know, redistricting reform in Pennsylvania is a decade-long process of pulling teeth.

A new bill would switch a public light on the subject and stem the mangling of communities in redistricting efforts.

And in the 11th year, alas … life in Harrisburg goes on with the same rotting teeth — with partisan fangs fully intact, of course.

This year looked to be different, as a groundswell of public support formed around the idea that an independent citizens commission might be approved to redraw the boundaries of state Senate and House districts, using the updated information from the 2020 census.

But that type of change is cumbersome. It requires a constitutional amendment, which in Pennsylvania means approval of both houses of the Legislature in two separate sessions, followed by statewide voter approval in a referendum.

And once again— with Republican leaders keeping a big toe on the brake — Pennsylvania is stumbling into a new decade without a better way to redraw state legislative district lines. That, in turn, enables gerrymandering — the process by which lawmakers create ready-made districts packed with like-minded voters, to fend off competition and keep Republicans in majority control.

But it also has the effect of keeping minority Democrats in mostly blue districts, leading to the type of partisan isolationism that works against change. Against reforming a corrupt system. Against new blood. Against any need to compromise. Against consideration and discussion of bills in committees.

Against good government. As bills to create a citizens commission have stagnated, two senators — Bethlehem Democrat Lisa Boscola and Delaware County Republican Tom Killion — have drummed up support for another route. Their bill wouldn’t deny the Legislature the final say on new political maps, but it would switch a public light on the subject, and stem the outright mangling of communities to create “safe” districts.

As reported by SpotlightPA last week, the bill would require lawmakers to hold public meetings about the redrawing process. “War-room” findings would be made available for public analysis before the 10-year die is cast.

Also, guidelines would limit the slicing and dicing of municipal/county boundaries to establish ultra-red and deep-blue districts.

That practice was cited by the state Supreme Court when it threw out Pennsylvania’s gerrymandered map of congressional districts in 2018 and replaced it with one more reflective of the state’s partisan make-up.

With congressional districts, state lawmakers oversee the redrawing process. The final bill is subject to the governor’s approval or veto.

State legislative districts, on the other hand, are redrawn by a five-member commission made up of the four Democratic and Republican legislative leaders, along with a chair selected by the other members. If they can’t agree on a fifth member, the state Supreme Court makes the choice.

The Boscola-Killion bill advanced out of the State Government Committee last Tuesday with bipartisan support and some opposition. A companion bill is being sponsored in the House by Rep. Wendi Thomas, R-Bucks.

If this approach sounds like a type of low-cal reform, it is. The reform favored by FairDistrictsPA, NAACP, League ofWomen Voters and other groups — having nonpoliticians oversee the redrawing process — is eminently better.

But consider the alternative: Ten more years of partisan stasis.

The constitutional amendment to create an independent commission must remain on the Legislature’s to-do list, even as the door closes on another 10-year opportunity.

Still, a bill illuminating the mapping process and limiting the worst instincts of power-mongers is a step forward. Gov. Wolf should climb aboard, if the bill gets to his desk.