Pennsylvania Senate double-cross
The Morning Call | By Bill White
My Sunday column will look at the discouraging latest developments in the effort to reform the way election districts are drawn up in Pennsylvania.
In short, Senate Republicans double-crossed everyone at the last minute by amending Senate Bill 22 — which would create an independent citizens redistricting commission — so it includes a provision calling for regional elections of state appellate court judges.
Editorial: Bipartisanship cast aside in redistricting effort
The Reading Eagle | Associated Press
It’s hard to stomach the twists and turns in the effort to change the way Pennsylvania’s congressional and state legislative districts are drawn. The latest development, a last-minute Republican amendment calling for a change in the way state appellate court judges are elected, angered Democrats and led many of redistricting reform’s staunchest advocates to drop their support of legislation they had championed.
News Digest :: June 16, 2018
Elections Wolf entered June with big cash advantage over Wagner http://www.pennlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2018/06/wolf_entered_june_with_big_cas.html Primary results show the GOP is all in on Trump...Philadelphia Tribune: Senate passes controversial plan
By Stacy M. Brown | Philadelphia Tribune
Philadelphia-area state Sens. Anthony Williams and Vincent Hughes led a chorus of Democrats expressing outrage this week over the Republican-led Senate’s redistricting overhaul, which would include Supreme, Superior and Commonwealth court districts.
Under the bill, which House members were expected to receive Wednesday, state appellate judges would be elected by district, rather than statewide, and a citizens commission would draw the state’s congressional and legislative districts
Senate Democratic Wrap-Up for the Week of June 11, 2018
The Senate unanimously approved House Bill 152, which repeals a section of the insurance company law that allows a surplus or safety fund. The legislation also adds a section allowing for the state Insurance Department to maintain an electronic database of contact...How can gerrymandering get worse? Lawmakers find a way. | Editorial
Philly.com | By The Inquirer Editorial Board
Harrisburg Republicans are acting like tyrants, using every legislative trick they can to undermine bills that would give voters the power to elect their own representatives.
They must know that if gerrymandering reform bills make it through the legislature, they’ll lose their power to fix elections. The reform bills would create an independent citizens commission that would balance legislative districts so that our representatives would have to listen to diverse views from a broader array of constituents.
News Digest :: June 15, 2018
Legislature Momentum growing for killing the Keystone Exams as a graduation requirement before it takes effect https://www.pennlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2018/06/momentum_growing_for_killing_t.html#incart_river_index There’s less precedent for regional judicial...Senate Democrats urge Speaker Turzai to refer SB 22 to House Rules Committee
PA Senate Democrats sent a letter to House Speaker Mike Turzai asking him to refer Senate Bill 22 to the House Rules Committee, for consideration and a motion to remove the Aument amendment on judicial districts. Loading... Taking too long? Reload document | Open in...State Senate OKs redistricting plan that would include judicial elections
By John Finnerty | Meadville Tribune
HARRISBURG — The state Senate on Wednesday voted 35-14 to approve a plan that would allow voters to decide whether to redo the way the state develops the maps used for elections of state and federal lawmakers and state appeals court judges.