Letter: Redistricting rally an inspiring event

Saturday April 21, 2018

There's strong support for changes to system.

Editor:


I was proud to be a Pennsylvanian when I stood with about 700 others in the Capitol rotunda April 16. I stood with Republicans, Democrats, independents and libertarians. All were united behind effort to end gerrymandering in this state before district lines are redrawn.


Rep. Daryl Metcalfe's reprehensible actions to gut and revise HB 722 have backfired. He is now the poster boy for what is wrong in our state government. HB 722 has the support of 110 House members, more than 50 percent of that body. Yet Metcalfe felt that his personal interests were paramount. His is now the face of a legislator who feels he is not accountable to the voters of this state.


Metcalfe has forgotten his sworn oath to uphold the state constitution, which says he is a representative of the people, not himself.

The voice of Pennsylvania spoke in the Capitol with a resounding, unified message. The time to end gerrymandering in this state is now. The time to hold legislators accountable is now. The time to take politics and politicians out of the business of drawing legislative districts is now. The time for an independent, nonpartisan citizens committee as proposed by FairDistricts PA is now.


I urge readers to contact legislators to urge their support for SB22 and the original HB722.


For those lawmakers who already support it, I thank them for their advocacy of legislation that will end gerrymandering in this state and ensure that each vote of each citizen will count.


Brydee Farmer
Fleetwood

Redistricting rally an inspiring event
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