Harrisburg, PA − February 9, 2018 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa and House Democratic Leader Frank Dermody send letter to Gov. Wolf condemning the congressional redistricting map shared with his office saying this: “This map was not the product of bipartisan work, nor is it a piece of legislation that passed through both of our chambers.”

9 February 2018
Governor Tom Wolf
508 Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120

Dear Governor Wolf:

We have recently learned that the Republican presiding officers of the House and Senate have shared a congressional redistricting map with your office. This map was not the product of bipartisan work, nor is it a piece of legislation that passed through both of our chambers. The Court clearly mandated that the General Assembly engage in the legislative process to create new congressional maps before the end of the day on Friday, February 9th .

The third paragraph of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s January 22, 2018 Per Curiam Order in the League of Women Voters case directs ”Pennsylvania General Assembly” to submit a congressional redistricting plan to you. The presiding officers are not the General Assembly.

Further, the “Remedy” portion of the Supreme Court’s majority opinion in the League of Women Voters case explicitly states that the Court ”… initially invited our sister branches – the legislative and executive branches – to take remedial action through enactment of a remedial congressional districting plan” in their January 22, 2018 Order. (Emphasis added.) It is impossible to enact what was presented to you this evening because it is not legislation.

Ironically after spending two weeks publically criticizing the Court for not issuing an opinion to provide them with guidance, the presiding officers promptly ignored the majority opinion. For these reasons, we ask you to reject it outright. The Republican leadership in both chambers blocked this process, refused to negotiate, and have now submitted a map directly to your office that we have not even seen.

Sincerely,

Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa
D-Allegheny

House Democratic Leader Frank Dermody
D-Westmoreland/Allegheny