Politics & Government

DeLissio 'Appalled' By State Redistricting Process

Roxborough Democrat supports nonpartisan process.

Rep. Pam DeLissio (D-194) has a firm stance when it comes to redistricting.

"It is an absolutely partisan, manipulative, self-interested process," she said Tuesday night.

Speaking to constituents at as a part of her quarterly town hall meetings, the freshman state rep called for a nonpartisan process to interpret U.S. Census information and give Pennsylvanians fair districts.

Find out what's happening in Roxborough-Manayunkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Undertaken by a five-member commission with a Republican majority, redistricting for the state Senate and House has caused consternation and change for .

According to the lawmaker, 40 percent of the 194th district will change for the 2012 election. She will maintain all of Roxborough and Manayunk, and also picks up 11 districts in East Falls and Andorra. She has also has seven out of eight Lower Merion precincts, which is an increase.

Find out what's happening in Roxborough-Manayunkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The five-person state redistricting commission included the majority and minority leaders for both the House and Senate, in addition to Stephen J. McEwen Jr, a Republican judge. Senate Majority Dominic Pileggi (R-9) said the plan incorporated 150 requests from Democratic lawmakers.

"We heard from interested residents across the Commonwealth at public hearings, by email and by postal mail. In the proposal I circulated to my fellow commissioners earlier today, I have tried to address as many of the concerns which were raised regarding the Senate map as possible," Pileggi said in statement.

DeLissio said the process is bogged down by self-preservation.

"People are more concerned with keeping their jobs, than doing them, and I'm appalled by that," DeLissio said.

Some colleagues, she said, expressed a desire to draw district lines in a way to discourage primary or general election challengers.

"Don't you have confidence in your performance? Why do you need that?" she asked.

The discussion came up over a larger look at recent state initiatives and legislative agendas, including the Marcellus Shale, state liquor stores and vouchers. (To read a complete round up, check out a story on NewsWorks.org.) Often, residents complained to DeLissio about government inaction. She attributed a lot of the gridlock back to the redistricting process.

"This prevents voters from getting competitive, quality government," she said.

If you missed it, DeLissio will hold one last town hall Thursday, Jan. 12 at Simpson House, 2101 Belmont Ave., Philadelphia, at 7 p.m. The next series will be in April.


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