Senator Eichelberger

Other legal minds are working hard to change that outcome

John Eichelberger — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 01:32:55 +0000

I read over the 87 page Supreme Court’s majority opinion today. The court spent a lot of time explaining that they received the final plan and appeals late and that it wasn’t their fault that the order was issued in the middle of the petition circulation process. I am regularly surprised to see how long everything takes in Harrisburg. They make a valid point. The remainder of the order is less clear. They talk about the state’s requirements to keep legislative districts compact and contiguous, and to refrain, when possible, from splitting counties and municipalities. My reading tells me that they hold the requirement to equalize the population between districts to a lower standard. I only noticed three references to specific districts and one of those was right next door; the 35th Senate District where John Wozniak serves. The opinion said the district looked like “a crooked finger”. This is the district that would include Bedford County under the new plan, part of the current 30th District. It is apparent that the court expects the 2001 map to continue for this election cycle. That may not be the last word on the subject, however. Other legal minds are working hard to change that outcome.

-John

The federal courts may make this decision for us

John Eichelberger — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 02:53:00 +0000

Well, the Supreme Court finally issued their opinion this afternoon. It is 87 pages and from first reports, it didn’t give much instruction to the Legislative Reapportionment Commission. So, on a Friday afternoon with no specifics, where do we go from here? I read a news report that said the court would allow for an appeal period on the submission of another “final” plan from the Commission. If this is the case, the petition filing time would need to be adjusted or the old boundaries would stay in effect for this election. The federal courts may make this decision for us. As much as I would like to report that there is a clear path to finalize this mess, I can’t.

-John

The Supreme Court’s delay is not helping matters

John Eichelberger — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:36:14 +0000

Another day without the Supreme Court’s opinion, at least at the time of this posting. I guess there is always a chance that we’ll get something late into the evening, but I doubt it. I work on scheduling daily and have requests for things in the new area of the 30th District and in the area that I would be loosing. So, I’m trying to cover everything. Latino voters joined the legal battle to have the new boundaries approved. They feel that they are better represented with the new map. This decision is of great interest to many people for many different reasons. The Supreme Court’s delay is not helping matters.

-John

This is getting to be more complex by the day

John Eichelberger — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 23:00:43 +0000

No news today on redistricting, at least at the time of this writing. Maybe the opinion will come tomorrow, maybe not. Every day that ticks by is a problem and creates more animosity toward the court. I spoke to the Altoona Kiwanis Club at lunchtime and went over the redistricting situation. I’ve found that people really don’t understand this issue and why the timing of this is so critical. They seem to be interested once they understand the importance of this decision, the interruption of the election process and the constitutional questions involved. The Senate Democrats are intervening on the side of the court in the federal law suit that House Speaker Sam Smith filed. This is getting to be more complex by the day. Hopefully tomorrow we’ll have the opinion and know more about what the next step might be.

-John

This makes sense to me

John Eichelberger — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 03:37:54 +0000

The Supreme Court’s redistricting opinion is rumored to be coming tomorrow. House Speaker Sam Smith filed a federal lawsuit in response to the State Supreme Court’s ruling saying that a decision that would force the state to maintain the current district boundaries for the next two years would violate the state and federal constitutions. In other words, the constitutions require the state to redraw or re balance the legislative districts to reflect the numbers from the census every ten years. This is done to comply with the one man, one vote model. By pushing off this redistricting for two years, the state’s highest court is breaking constitutional law. This argument has a lot of support in Harrisburg and makes sense to me.

-John

It is the private entrepreneur who has the vision for a better tomorrow

John Eichelberger — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:41:30 +0000

I have had a lot of constituent meetings lately. I am regularly surprised with the clever innovation I see when folks stop in to explain an idea they have that will help the community or start a business (of course, new businesses help the community). I met with people this morning that have a great concept that would change our daily lives for the better. Again, I was impressed. It’s seldom the government that makes a significant improvement on our lives, it is the private entrepreneur who has the vision for a better tomorrow. I might have heard from just such a visionary this morning. In this case and in many others, it isn’t a case of what the government can do to help get the idea to market, it is the opposite, what can I do to help them keep the government from stopping their project. Government needs to stay out of the way a lot more than it does.

-John

There is never a shortage of places to be and things to do

John Eichelberger — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 03:11:29 +0000

There were lots of stories printed today concerning the redistricting mess and the fact that three of the Supreme Court Justices flew to Puerto Rico for a conference immediately after issuing their decision, but, of course, before the full opinion was written. One story said that it would be later in the week until the opinion was issued. No one has been more specific to my knowledge. I got a little office work done after church and worked on a project at home for most of the day. We are not in session this week, so I loaded up my schedule with meetings, etc. in the district. There is never a shortage of places to be and things to do.

-John

She looks stunning, as usual

John Eichelberger — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 02:04:01 +0000

It was announced last night that long time State Rep. Bud George decided not to run again. Bud is one of the oldest members, if not the oldest member, serving today. When rumors circulated recently that he wouldn’t run, he vehemently denied them and fought inside his caucus to maintain the general boundaries of his district. Meanwhile, other, less senior members had their districts essentially abolished. The announcement yesterday worsened hard feelings within his own caucus. Maybe with new redistricting changes coming, his district will be on the chopping block. Charlotte and I are headed to Fort Littleton for a Fulton County Medical Center fundraiser tonight. I had to dig out my tux. She looks stunning, as usual.

-John

It is a group of good people

John Eichelberger — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 02:18:50 +0000

The Bedford County Chamber had their annual Legislative Breakfast this morning. I spoke and answered questions along with Rep’s Dick Hess and Carl Metzgar. Surprisingly, the three of us disagree on a fair amount of subjects. I left there for an R.C.& D. Council meeting. I served as a council member when I was a County Commissioner. It is a group of good people. I got a little office work done this afternoon. Next week, we are not scheduled to go back into session, so I hope to catch up a little. There was nothing new on the redistricting situation today, we’ll just have to wait.

It gives the impression that they weren’t talking about a tweak here and there

John Eichelberger — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:03:11 +0000

The news today on the redistricting was about delays. A spokesman for the Supreme Court said that the full opinion, containing the instructions about what they want changed, won’t be ready until at least next week. Meanwhile, the clock is ticking on the three week period to circulate petitions for office. Late this afternoon a story quoting Justice Max Baer said that he felt that there would not be sufficient time to remedy the necessary changes and that, therefore, the old district boundaries would have to remain in place for this election cycle. In other words, the old districts would stay the same for two more years. This was just his estimate, but it gives the impression that they weren’t talking about a tweak here and there. Stay tuned.

-John