Comey’s bombshells, redistricting gutted and the GOP’s internal fighting
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Gosh, another boring two weeks where nothing happened in politics.
Well, except for former FBI Director James Comey apparently referring to President Donald Trump as a “Mob Boss,” Speaker of the U.S. House Paul Ryan announcing that he won’t be running for reelection to the House, the head of the Republican Congressional Campaign ripping into a local Republican...
Letter: Turzai rebuts column on redistricting fight
To The Editor,
Your recent editorial regarding the League of Women Voters v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania redistricting lawsuit leaves out some important facts, which your readers should know.
Please note that the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed the 2011 Pennsylvania congressional map by a vote of 136-61, with 100 Republicans voting “yes” and 36 Democrats voting “yes.” Passing...
New Congressional maps are a karma bomb for GOP
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Republicans across the state of Pennsylvania are howling mad and running to the courts seeking assistance.
Karma is a bitch, right?
It seems like they may have to compete on a fair Congressional map — not the 2011 map that was among the most Gerrymandered maps in the entire country — and they don’t like it one bit.
Wolf rejects GOP redistricting plan; court may impose new map, Monday
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
As expected, Gov. Tom Wolf rejected the new Congressional map proposed by the two Republican caucus leaders, which could lead to the state Supreme Court imposing a district map of its own Monday, leading to possible federal litigation.
The previous Gerrymandering of Congressional districts hit hardest in the Philadelphia suburbs, including Chester County, where both...
PA Supreme Court throws out Congressional district maps
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court
If you felt a certain fondness for Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has bad news for you: after a 4-3 ruling by the court Monday, it’s gone — and will be replaced by a newly shaped district by mid-February.
A majority of the justices ruled that the 2011 redistricting “clearly, plainly and...
Comey firing raises the stakes for 2018 elections
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Just when the healthcare mess seemed ready to drown our local Congressvictims in a Jonestown Flood like deluge, President Trump’s firing of FBI Director James B. Comey, Tuesday, swooped in and saved them by changing the subject.
And by saving them, I mean sparing them from a looming electoral firing squad by hitting them with a flaming asteroid.
While Pennsylvania’s...
A Q&A with Kate Young on Fair Districts PA and the fight against gerrymandering
By Nathaniel Smith, Columnist, The Times
Recently I spoke with Kate Young about Fair Districts PA https://www.fairdistrictspa.com/ and its campaign to do away with gerrymandering in Pennsylvania. Several Fair Districts presentations this spring have generated great interest. West Chester Public Library didn’t have materials on gerrymandering in its collection, so Fair Districts PA donated three books...
Fair DistrictsPA forum takes on Gerrymandering
Carol Kuniholm, Chair of Fair Districts PA, addressing the audience, Wednesday night at West Chester Henderson High School.
By Eliza Mohler, Staff Writer, The Times
WEST CHESTER – Political strategist Karl Rove once said, “He who can control redistricting can control Congress.” At her presentation Wednesday at Henderson High School, Fair Districts PA Chair Carol Kuniholm used this quote to illustrate...
Coatesville area new state house district upheld by courts
New state house, state Senate districts for many — new district, the 74th in Coatesville area
The new State House districts for Chester County, including the new 74th District, centered around Coatesville.
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
The Pennsylvania State Supreme Court has upheld a new legislative redistricting plan, Wednesday, meaning the proposed district changes — including...
Coatesville area to get state house seat, again
Version two of redistricting plan would send the 74th District to Rt. 30 corridor
By Mike McGann, Editor, CoatesvilleTimes.com
The new 74th State House district would include much of the Coatesville area.
HARRISBURG — Maybe the second time is the charm.
And once again, it appears that the Coatesville area is going to get a new state house district — but a different one than originally planned.
The...
