The state Supreme Court ruled Wednesday to send the state House and Senate maps back to the Legislative Reapportionment Commission. |
Although Wednesday’s Supreme Court decision on the General Assembly’s maps has left more questions than answers, one thing is clear: The court found the plan “contrary to law.”
Pennsylvania’s highest court ruled Wednesday to send the state House and Senate maps back to the Legislative Reapportionment Commission with a directive to reapportion the state following the court’s opinion, which will be released later. A release date was not included in the court order issued Wednesday.
Most members of the Legislature were on their way home when the court issued its ruling Wednesday. They are not scheduled to be in session again until Feb. 6.
Sen. Kim Ward, R-Hempfield Township, said she was working Wednesday evening to try to get more details on the ruling.
“I’m hoping I get to keep Somerset,” she said. “I really wouldn’t mind getting more of Somerset.”
The order also stated that the 2001 Legislative Reapportionment Plan is to “be used in all forthcoming elections to the General Assembly until the next constitutionally mandated reapportionment shall be approved.” Essentially, candidates should prepare to run in their current districts, not the redrawn districts. For instance, Sen. Rich Kasunic, D-Dunbar, would be compelled to run as if he still represents Somerset County, which was dropped from his district when the new maps were released.
Tuesday was the first day to circulate nomination petitions. The order indicated that any signatures collected Tuesday and Wednesday can still be used. The order changed the first day to circulate petitions to today with a Feb. 16 deadline to turn in petitions. The primary is April 24.
State Rep. Frank Burns, D-East Taylor Township, said his understanding is he will run in his original district until a new map is passed.
“If it is not settled by election day that would be the district,” he said. “I really don’t know. It’s not real clear right now.”
Burns was surprised by the decision and is curious to see if the court will order a few changes or a complete overhaul. Burns believes his district was fairly drawn.
“My father always told me, ‘Only focus on the things you can control,”” Burns said. “I can only say whatever district I have, I am going to be happy with it. This definitely shakes things up though.”
State Rep. Mike Reese picked up parts of Somerset County when the maps were redrawn to coincide with the 2010 census. He is hoping to keep parts of Somerset County. The Mount Pleasant Republican called the decision a game-changer since he and his colleagues had already made plans for re-election campaigns and started circulating petitions.
“It’s a frustrating process,” he said. “You think the lines were set, then the court overturns them.”
Reese said lawmakers must wait and see what the ruling says.
“At the end of the day we need to go back to work and address the concerns of the court and get the process moving again,” he said.
State Rep. Carl Walker Metzgar, R-Allegheny Township, said if he was drawing the maps, he would have done them differently to begin with. That being said, he said he did not think his district violated the state constitution the way it was drawn.
“I’m anxious to see the justices’ opinion when it comes out, which I understand is in a couple of days,” he said.
The commission includes House Majority Leader Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny, Minority Leader Frank Dermody, D-Allegheny, Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-Delaware, Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa, D-Allegheny, and Stephen J. McEwen Jr., president judge emeritus of the state Superior Court, who was appointed by the court to serve on the committee.
Senate Democrats were among those who filed challenges against the plans. Costa was the only member of the committee to vote against the plan. He held a conference call Wednesday after the decision was made. He said the court decision is unprecedented.
“I really can’t say what the overhaul is going to have to be without having the guidance of the court,” he said.
He said he was pleased with the ruling.
“We felt there was a better way and a better process in the spirit and the language of the (state) constitution,” he said.
Pileggi said in an email to the Daily American that once he has the information to proceed, he hopes to quickly present a new plan.
“This is uncharted territory, and at this point the court has not provided the information needed for the Legislative Reapportionment Commission to fully understand how to proceed,” he said. “As a member of the Commission, I will do everything in my power to ensure that a redistricting plan for the General Assembly is enacted as promptly as possible when the court releases its opinion.”
Kasunic could not be reached for comment Wednesday evening.
Pennsylvania’s highest court ruled Wednesday to send the state House and Senate maps back to the Legislative Reapportionment Commission with a directive to reapportion the state following the court’s opinion, which will be released later. A release date was not included in the court order issued Wednesday.
Most members of the Legislature were on their way home when the court issued its ruling Wednesday. They are not scheduled to be in session again until Feb. 6.
Sen. Kim Ward, R-Hempfield Township, said she was working Wednesday evening to try to get more details on the ruling.
“I’m hoping I get to keep Somerset,” she said. “I really wouldn’t mind getting more of Somerset.”
The order also stated that the 2001 Legislative Reapportionment Plan is to “be used in all forthcoming elections to the General Assembly until the next constitutionally mandated reapportionment shall be approved.” Essentially, candidates should prepare to run in their current districts, not the redrawn districts. For instance, Sen. Rich Kasunic, D-Dunbar, would be compelled to run as if he still represents Somerset County, which was dropped from his district when the new maps were released.
Tuesday was the first day to circulate nomination petitions. The order indicated that any signatures collected Tuesday and Wednesday can still be used. The order changed the first day to circulate petitions to today with a Feb. 16 deadline to turn in petitions. The primary is April 24.
State Rep. Frank Burns, D-East Taylor Township, said his understanding is he will run in his original district until a new map is passed.
“If it is not settled by election day that would be the district,” he said. “I really don’t know. It’s not real clear right now.”
Burns was surprised by the decision and is curious to see if the court will order a few changes or a complete overhaul. Burns believes his district was fairly drawn.
“My father always told me, ‘Only focus on the things you can control,”” Burns said. “I can only say whatever district I have, I am going to be happy with it. This definitely shakes things up though.”
State Rep. Mike Reese picked up parts of Somerset County when the maps were redrawn to coincide with the 2010 census. He is hoping to keep parts of Somerset County. The Mount Pleasant Republican called the decision a game-changer since he and his colleagues had already made plans for re-election campaigns and started circulating petitions.
“It’s a frustrating process,” he said. “You think the lines were set, then the court overturns them.”
Reese said lawmakers must wait and see what the ruling says.
“At the end of the day we need to go back to work and address the concerns of the court and get the process moving again,” he said.
State Rep. Carl Walker Metzgar, R-Allegheny Township, said if he was drawing the maps, he would have done them differently to begin with. That being said, he said he did not think his district violated the state constitution the way it was drawn.
“I’m anxious to see the justices’ opinion when it comes out, which I understand is in a couple of days,” he said.
The commission includes House Majority Leader Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny, Minority Leader Frank Dermody, D-Allegheny, Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-Delaware, Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa, D-Allegheny, and Stephen J. McEwen Jr., president judge emeritus of the state Superior Court, who was appointed by the court to serve on the committee.
Senate Democrats were among those who filed challenges against the plans. Costa was the only member of the committee to vote against the plan. He held a conference call Wednesday after the decision was made. He said the court decision is unprecedented.
“I really can’t say what the overhaul is going to have to be without having the guidance of the court,” he said.
He said he was pleased with the ruling.
“We felt there was a better way and a better process in the spirit and the language of the (state) constitution,” he said.
Pileggi said in an email to the Daily American that once he has the information to proceed, he hopes to quickly present a new plan.
“This is uncharted territory, and at this point the court has not provided the information needed for the Legislative Reapportionment Commission to fully understand how to proceed,” he said. “As a member of the Commission, I will do everything in my power to ensure that a redistricting plan for the General Assembly is enacted as promptly as possible when the court releases its opinion.”
Kasunic could not be reached for comment Wednesday evening.
