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Altmire to Harrisburg Dems: Vote for GOP Redistricting Plan

By Keegan Gibson, Managing Editor

Rep. Jason Altmire feels pretty good about the way the GOP drew the new 12th district. So good, in fact, that he sent a letter to Pa. House Dems from his area asking them to vote for it.

“I want to make clear that I believe all the western Pennsylvania districts, including the new 12th, are drawn in a fair and contiguous way. Now, at the conclusion of such a long and contentious process, the public has a right to know what their final district will look like. I see no benefit to the public of further delay in the process. Therefore, I respectfully ask for your support of the new map as drawn,” Altmire wrote in a copy of the letter obtained by PoliticsPA. Its full text, which came on campaign letterhead, is below.

Every viable option for the map had in common that it combines the districts of Altmire and Rep. Mark Critz. If that’s assumed, Altmire has a good reason for not wanting things to go back to the drawing board.

Since the map was revealed, Altmire’s campaign has emphasized that about 66 percent of its constituents will be retained from his current 4th district. The Critz folks stipulate as much, but argue that Altmire’s occasional troubles with liberals and labor make that fact a plus for the congressman from Johnstown.

He joins urban Congressmen Bob Brady (D-Phila) Mike Doyle (D-Allegheny), who reportedly like the way their districts are drawn and are lobbying in the same way.

Here’s the letter:

Dear [State House Member],

I wanted to drop you a quick note in advance of the House vote on the new congressional
districts to let you know my view on the map.

First, I want you to know how much I appreciate all the work that you did to ensure a fair process. We are all disappointed that Pennsylvania is losing a seat in Congress as a result of our  region’s relative population stagnation. Given the political realities of the process, it was clear from the start that two democratic congressional districts would likely be merged. Having heard many western Pennsylvania Democrats in the Legislature express particular concern with the way the newly-merged 4th and 12th Congressional Districts are drawn, I wanted to formally let you know my opinion.

Although nobody can be entirely happy with the overall result of such a process, I want to make clear that I believe all the western Pennsylvania districts, including the new 12th, are drawn in a fair and contiguous way. Now, at the conclusion of such a long and contentious process, the public has a right to know what their final district will look like. I see no benefit to the public of further delay in the process. Therefore, I respectfully ask for your support of the new map as drawn.

As always, please let me know if you want to discuss this or any other issue of concern to you.

Sincerely,

Jason Altmire

2 Responses

  1. idiot!
    traitor!

    this is the perfect illustration of the pa dem who might as well just be a republiclown

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