Letter: Costello complaints seem hypocritical

Monday March 26, 2018

One who benefits from an unfair system shouldn't cry foul when it's changed.

Editor:

U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello claims that "four politically corrupt Democratic (state) justices" were cheating by changing the map for congressional districts. I would have preferred that he used the term "unfair" rather than "cheat" in reference to the judges' decision. Having said that, I must point out that the gerrymandered state districts that were in place before the lawsuits were every bit as unfair as the recent redrawing of the districts by the state Supreme Court, and more so. I don't recall Costello ever complaining about the unfair (or cheating) gerrymandered district lines from which he benefited.

It seems to me that there must be a fair and nonpolitical way to create districts. So after doing some research I discovered that there is pending legislation in Harrisburg that addresses this issue. House Bill 722 and Senate Bill 22 are bipartisan measures. Neither gives any party an advantage. The bills take the redistricting process out of the hands of current or recently elected officials and require the process to be done in a transparent manner. Readers looking to learn more should go to the Fair Districts PA website.

Paul M. Wolf
Lower Alsace Township
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Costello complaints seem hypocritical