To those covering redistricting politics, Rep. Bill Shuster is a person you hear about often. Shuster knows the numbers in and out, and is a primary actor in this year’s congressional map drawing in PA.

Turns out he’s one of the most influential members of Congress in the nation, too.

Shira Toeplitz of Roll Call compiled this list of the top ten congressmen with the biggest impact in the process, and rightly lists Shuster among them.

Click here to read the entire piece. Here is her write-up on Shuster:

Pennsylvania: Rep. Bill Shuster (R)

Keystone State Republicans are not only aiming to pit two Democrats against each other in one district, but they also want to shore up the competitive GOP-leaning seats in southeastern Pennsylvania. Although Shuster is not the dean of the delegation, state Republicans say there’s no question that he’s a major broker between Washington, D.C., and the state capital — acting as a go-between among his GOP colleagues as they begin the extended mapmaking process in the state. Shuster also has some skin in this game. With a matchup between southwestern Pennsylvania Reps. Jason Altmire (D) and Mark Critz (D) almost a foregone conclusion, Shuster does not want any part of Democrat-heavy nearby Johnstown to end up in his staunchly GOP district. But while Shuster may be the unofficial leader, he’s not the only one trying to influence the redistricting game: The delegation’s dean, Rep. Joe Pitts (R), still has some say in the matter, and GOP Reps. Charlie Dent and Jim Gerlach, both of whom have survived tough races in their southeastern swing districts, have deep ties to state lawmakers from their 10-plus years serving in the state Legislature.