Pennsylvania lawmakers reject Democratic plan for congressional redistricting

FROM THE EXPRESS TIMES

The Pennsylvania House tonight rejected a Democratic counterproposal that would keep Lehigh and Northampton counties in the same congressional district.

The move all but assures that new boundary lines crafted by Republican leaders will take effect in January, splitting the Lehigh Valley into two different congressional districts for the first time in 40 years.

The Republican-led Senate approved the new congressional districts last week; a final House vote before it becomes law is expected Tuesday.

House Democratic Whip Michael Hanna's counterproposal was defeated 108-85. Among the Lehigh Valley delegation, the vote fell along party lines.

Opposing the Democratic plan were Republican state Reps. Joe Emrick, Marcia Hahn, Julie Harhart, Justin Simmons and Gary Day. Voting in favor of it were Democrats Robert Freeman, Steve Samuelson, Joe Brennan and Jennifer Mann.

Rep. Douglas Reichley, R-Lehigh, wasn't present.

Freeman, D-Northampton, labeled the new boundaries "outrageous" and "a terrible case of gerrymandering" designed solely to strengthen incumbent Republicans' chances of re-election.

The Democrats' plan reflected "communities of interest" and was less partisan than the GOP one, he said.

"It was the best way to keep the Lehigh Valley together," he said. "The Lehigh Valley has evolved into a recognized region. We deserve our own district.”

A motion by Samuelson to postpone a second reading of the Republican plan also was defeated. Samuelson, D-Northampton/Lehigh, said the public hadn't had a chance to digest the changes, which the Senate approved last Wednesday 14 hours after the changes were revealed.

Samuelson said he remained hopeful the House would reject the Senate-approved plan Tuesday.

"That would allow for additional negotiations between the House and Senate to rework the map," he said. "We need to get this right and keep the Lehigh Valley together."

The Republican proposal moves 20 Northampton County municipalities and parts of three others out of the 15th Congressional District headed by Republican U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent and into the 17th Congressional District led by U.S. Rep. Timothy Holden, a Democrat from Schuylkill County.

Easton, Nazareth and much of the Slate Belt shift into the 17th District.

Besides Democratic lawmakers, the Republican plan has been criticized by Lehigh Valley business leaders and watchdog groups such as Common Cause and the League of Women Voters.

A new congressional map is required every decade to reflect population shifts. Because Pennsylvania grew more slowly than the rest of the nation, it will lose a U.S. House seat, dropping from 19 to 18 in the 2012 election and ensuring significant changes.

Those changes, known as reapportionment, are being controlled this time around by Republicans because they control the state Legislature and the governor’s office.

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/breaking-news/index.ssf/2011/12/pennsylvania_lawmakers_reject.html