FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 7, 2011
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Senator Pileggi Posts Proposed Final Plan for Legislative Redistricting

Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-9), a member of the 2011 Legislative Reapportionment Commission, has posted his proposal for the Senate portion of the LRC's Final Plan to his website at www.SenatorPileggi.com/redistricting.htm.

"I want to thank everyone who took the time to contact the Commission during the public comment period to share their thoughts on the Preliminary Plan, both pro and con," said Senator Pileggi. "We heard from interested residents across the Commonwealth at public hearings, by email and by postal mail. In the proposal I circulated to my fellow commissioners earlier today, I have tried to address as many of the concerns which were raised regarding the Senate map as possible."

Senator Pileggi's proposed Final Plan, which incorporates more than 150 requests made by Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-43), modifies 25 Senate districts from the Preliminary Plan:

• The Philadelphia footprints of Senate Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8 are improved.
• Senate District 14's footprint is reduced in Lehigh County and expanded in Northampton County, and Senate District 45's footprint is improved in Northampton County.
• The boundaries of Senate Districts 14 and 22 in Luzerne County are improved.
• Senate District 15 is much more compact and is almost entirely contained in Dauphin and York counties. Related changes improved the footprints of Senate Districts 30 and 31.
• Senate District 16 is contained entirely within Lehigh County.
• Senate District 18 more closely conforms to its existing boundaries in Northampton County.
• The Washington County footprints of Senate Districts 32 and 46 are improved.
• The boundaries of Senate Districts 35, 39 and 41 are modified in Somerset County.
• Senate District 36 is contained entirely within Lancaster County.
• Senate Districts 38 and 41 are made more compact in Westmoreland County.
• The Pittsburgh footprints of Senate Districts 38, 42 and 43 are improved.
• Senate District 39 expands its footprint in Westmoreland County, while Senate District 46 no longer includes a portion of Westmoreland County.
• The Allegheny County footprints of Senate Districts 43 and 46 are improved.
• Senate District 48's footprint in Dauphin County is modified to help facilitate the more compact Senate District 15. It also adds a portion of Perry County, and it no longer includes a portion of Lancaster County.

This proposed Final Plan reduces the total number of county splits in the Senate map, including these changes:

• Cumberland County has two senators, rather than three.
• Northampton County has four senators, rather than five.
• Perry County has two senators, rather than three.
• Westmoreland County has four senators, rather than five.
• York County has four senators, rather than five.

This proposed Final Plan splits 28 counties, the same number as the Preliminary Plan – and one fewer than the existing plan, approved in 2001, which splits 29 counties.

The five-member LRC, established by Article II, Section 17, of the state constitution, is responsible for redrawing the boundaries for state Senate and state House districts to reflect population changes over the past decade as measured by the federal census.

President Judge Emeritus Stephen J. McEwen, Jr., of Pennsylvania's Superior Court, chairs the Commission, which also includes Senator Pileggi, Senator Costa, House Majority Leader Mike Turzai (R-28), and House Democratic Leader Frank Dermody (D-33).

Judge McEwen asked all members of the Commission to circulate proposed plans today to ensure sufficient review time before the LRC meets to adopt a Final Plan. That meeting is expected to take place on Monday, December 12, in Harrisburg.

Senator Pileggi's website includes a page devoted to redistricting updates, http://www.senatorpileggi.com/redistricting.htm. The LRC's website is available at http://www.redistricting.state.pa.us/.

More information about state issues is available at Senator Pileggi's website, www.SenatorPileggi.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SenatorPileggi, or on Twitter at twitter.com/SenatorPileggi.

Contact:

Erik Arneson
(717) 787-4712