Protesters Disrupt State Hearing To Reconfigure Pennsylvania House And Senate Districts
HARRISBURG (CBS) - Protesters shouting Occupy Wall Street slogans delayed and disrupted a Friday hearing on a plan to reconfigure state House and Senate districts in Pennsylvania.
"We are… the 99 percent!"
After a half hour delay, the state Legislative Reapportionment Commission's hearing started with the protest still at full volume. Barry Kauffman of Common Cause Pennsylvania expressed concerns that the preliminary redistricting plan excessively divides counties and municipalities.
"While the state constitution strictly prohibits the division of political subdivisions unless absolutely necessary, the practice of chopping them up is relatively routine," said Kauffman.
Erik Arneson is a spokesman for Chester Republican Dominic Pileggi, the Senate majority leader, who's a member of the commission.
"Overall, the commission's preliminary plan has fewer splits at the county level, municipal level and the ward level than the plan that is currently in place and was adopted 10 years ago."
Protesters, meanwhile, eventually left the hearing.
Reported by Tony Romeo, KYW Newsradio
