Redistricting

One reliable source in the state house has confirmed any redistricting reform is unlikely to happen this year, and if it were to happen at all, next year would be the most likely scenario.  The problem is, any redistrict reform that involved moving the decision from the legislature to an independent board requires a constitutional amendment. For the matter to be put on the ballot for the public to approve, the same bill must be passed by two consecutive sessions. That means for there to be a change before the next redistricting occurs; a bill must be passed this summer.

More likely according to a house source, the bill could be passed next year, then the following session allowing the change for the 2020 redistricting process.  If the change were to take place for the 2010 redistricting process, to many current officials would be effected.  While if the bill were not to pass the first time until next year many who currently hold a seat would not be as worried about how they were effected 10 years from now.  So if the bill is to actually pass, look for it to more than likely happen next year, not this.  

Following a similar action in the state House that was criticized by government reform advocates, a state Senate committee on Tuesday tabled a proposal to take politics out of redistricting.

The Senate's State Government Committee put off a vote on the measure, which would have taken elected officials out of the process of redrawing districts.

Known as "gerrymandering," the process most often involves splitting up and redrawing districts to the electoral advantage of incumbents and majority parties. Pennsylvania is the second-most gerrymandered state in the nation.