Ohio as role model

On Wednesday the Ohio House approved a bill to draw state legislative district boundaries using a bipartisan process designed to make the districts more competitive.  

In 2012 Obama won Ohio, but the state legislature is overwhelmingly Republican, and Republicans hold 12 out of the 16 Congressional seats.

Since the Republicans have a majority, why would they support such a bill?  Two reasons.  First, some Republicans realized they may not always have a majority, and the Democrats could gerrymander when they get into power.  Secondly, the Republicans were worried about a proposed referendum that could have gone even further.  The current bill applies only to state legislative districts, not Congressional districts. 

Nonetheless, it’s a start.  Now if we could only get the Pennsylvania legislature to see the light.

If you want the link, it’s <http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/21/us/politics/in-a-break-from-partisan-rancor-ohio-moves-to-make-elections-more-competitive.html?module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3As>.