Rendell backs redistricting reform

Gov. Ed Rendell issued a letter Friday urging the chairpersons of the House and Senate State Government committees to support legislation to change how Pennsylvania redraws its legislative district boundaries.

Redistricting reform is backed by most advocates of good government as a way to end the virtual lock incumbents have on most legislative districts.

A permanent political class has developed in Pennsylvania. Politicians spend 30 or 40 years in office by redrawing their districts to prevent challenges from other other political party.

"The Commonwealth's existing redistricting process undermines democracy by institutionalizing a powerful system of incumbent protection," Rendell wrote in a letter to Sens. Anthony H. Williams (D-Philadelphia) and Jeffrey Piccola (R-Dauphin), and Reps. Babette Josephs (D-Philadelphia) and Mathew E. Baker (R-Bradford).

More from the governor's plea for reform:

"For every vote to truly count, we must have competitive elections where voters have the opportunity to choose between viable candidates. I am convinced that the only way to ensure meaningful elections is to take politics out of the process of drawing legislative boundaries.

"This issue is neither arcane nor academic; how we draw legislative boundaries impacts the daily lives of Pennsylvanians because competitive elections in rationally drawn districts are the only way that voters can make their voices heard on the issues that matter to them," he said.

About a year ago, Rendell called for creation of a nine-member citizens' commission that would be charged with redrawing legislative boundaries.

I wrote at the time, that Rendell and I finally see eye-to-eye on an issue.

If the citizens' commission plan is adopted, districts would be required to be drawn based on population.

Deviations from the most populous to the least populous would not be greater than 8 percent under Rendell's proposal. Also, counties, cities, towns, boroughs and incorporated towns would not be divided unless it became unavoidable, Rendell says.

"People should be choosing their representatives, not the other way around," Rendell said.

By acting now on bills pending before the General Assembly, Rendell said redistricting reform would make it possible to amend the Pennsylvania Constitution and allow changes to be made before district borders are redrawn following the 2010 U.S. Census.

Now let's see Rendell put his money where his mouth is. Democrats (specifically Rep. Babette Josephs) are blocking redistricting reform in the House of Representatives.