"... it’s not good democracy or good government when politicians choose their voters rather than the other way around"

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Redistricting should not be left up to politicians
April 4, 2014

“Gerrymandered by the best.”

That’s how state Sen. Mike Folmer, R-Lebanon, described his 48th District at a recent York County Economic Alliance legislative luncheon.

He can say that again.

For those unfamiliar with these wide-ranging municipalities, his district gerry-meanders from Lebanon County, through Dauphin County and deep into York County. According to Google maps, it would take about an hour and 15 minutes to drive from the rural northern border of that district to Suburban Springettsbury Township in the south.

“I had nothing to do with that,” said Sen. Folmer, who many York countians were surprised to learn is already their senator — despite the fact that no one in York County voted for him — as a result of some legal weirdness that accompanies reapportionment.

Well, maybe he had nothing to do with drawing the district, but the Republican would seem to benefit from it, as the district is chock full of conservative voters.

And maybe Sen. Folmer, who carries a copy of the Constitution around in his suit pocket, could have something to do with changing and depoliticizing the way we draw state and federal legislative districts.

State government reform is all the rage these days, as gubernatorial and legislative candidates respond to allegations that several Philadelphia-area lawmakers were targets of a sting operation involving gift-giving by lobbyists.

Many have rightly jumped on the gift-ban wagon — particularly the Democratic gubernatorial candidates, who might see vulnerability in an incumbent governor who has reportedly accepted a boatload of gifts (including, yes, a weekend on a yacht).

But banning or limiting such gifts is pretty low-hanging fruit on the government reform tree.

How about changing the way real power is wielded in Harrisburg? Apportionment is one them.

Don’t believe it? Look at the results in Pennsylvania. A recent Associated Press analysis shows that Republicans who control the governor’s office and both legislative bodies used gerrymandering to solidify control of state government — and also to command a strong majority of U.S. House seats. The GOP controls 13 of the state’s 18 U.S. House seats — despite the fact that Democrats have a 4-to-3 registration lead in the state, and President Obama won the state by more than 300,000 votes.

And that has national implications, as another AP analysis shows such gerrymandering in key states such as Pennsylvania gives Republicans a built-in structural advantage in controlling Congress.

That might be smart politics, but it’s not good democracy or good government when politicians choose their voters rather than the other way around. Such gaming of the system makes for uncompetitive elections in all but a few districts, fewer choices for voters and a solidification of the status quo.

That can’t be what our forefathers intended.

Perhaps Sen. Folmer can find inspiration in that Constitution copy in his coat pocket to fight for changes in this system.

It’s time for a nonpartisan redistricting commission that would draw compact, competitive districts that are centered on communities rather than politicians.

We’ve been talking about this for a long time. It will be a popular topic in this election season. Our leaders can show they’re serious about reform — and not just full of a lot of rhetorical blather — by passing reapportionment reform before the November election.
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