Move Pa. primary to accommodate incumbent lawmakers? Of course not!

Sunday, February 19, 2012

So what ought the Pennsylvania Legislature to do about the scheduled April 24 primary election?
The state Supreme Court has ruled that a commission appointed to redraw legislative districts to conform to population changes recorded in the 2010 Census violated the Constitution by unnecessarily splitting too many counties and municipalities in order to benefit incumbents, chiefly Republicans.
The Court said that the 2001 district lines ought to be used in the April 24 primary election.
"Foul!" cry Republicans - who stand to benefit from the 2010 lines that they drew.
The choices, they tell us, are:

• Use the 2001 lines and hold the primary on April 24.
• Delay the primary election past April 24, thereby screwing up not only state-level elections, but primary federal elections for President and U.S. Senator.
• Split the elections, holding the federal election on April 24 and holding the state-level elections later, after redrawn districts meet with the Supreme Court's approval - at a cost of more than $20 million, not to mention aggravation.

What ought the Legislature to do?
Simple.
For once, obey the law.
Back in 2005, legislators flouted the Constitution and gave themselves a pay increase, later rescinded. Since then, they have paid lip service to being law-abiding, but have continued to ignore the law, as witness the Bonusgate and Computergate convictions/guilty pleas of some former leaders.
So lawmakers should say, in effect:

• The commission screwed up. It manipulated too many districts, and, worse, it diddled around, and didn't submit its plans in enough time to allow for a second go-around if, as did happen, the Court disagreed.
• Times really are changing. The Supreme Court said, "Hold the election on April 24, and use the 2001 districts." A federal court said that would not violate the federal Constitution. So why not actually be law-abiding American citizens, and peaceably accept a court decision even though it might be disagreeable?
• Insist that the redistricting commission submit redrawn districts now, in February, not in April or May. If the court approves them in time for the primary to be held on April 24, fine. If not, put new districts into effect for the 2014 election.

But let's not play games with delaying the primary election at this late date, especially not this year when Pennsylvania's votes could be crucial in choosing a Republican presidential nominee.
When it comes down to it, only incumbents really, really care about all this fuss and bother.
The commission appointed by the Legislature did do its job - in the same screwed-up way that the job has been being done for the past 50 years, just as the 2005 pay raise attempt was at least the third time the Legislature had chosen to flout the Constitution. This time, the Supreme Court said "No more!" just as it did so in 2005 with the pay increase.
The Legislature created its own hardship.
Follow the law.
- Denny Bonavita