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Luzerne County Council OKs tax break for new project in Nanticoke and Hanover

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Organization recommends state spend $1 billion a year for college access

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; As expected, the reaction has been split between Republicans and Democrats following the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling that struck down the state&#8217;s congressional map, granting a major victory to Democrats who charged that the 18 districts were unconstitutionally drawn to benefit Republicans.</p><p>Congressmen Lou Barletta, R-Hazleton, and Tom Marino, R-Williamsport, were among the Pennsylvania members of Congress to sign the following statement:</p><p>&#8220;(The) misguided decision by the Pennsylvania State Supreme Court is an unfortunate example of the judicial branch inserting itself into the core functions of the legislative branch. Today&#8217;s Congressional maps were drafted and approved by both Republicans and Democrats. It also comes on the eve of a midterm election. An orderly electoral process is an essential function of our Democracy.&#8221;</p><p>U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Lehigh Valley, also weighed in on the issue, and he was very critical of the court.</p><p>&#8220;In a power grab of breathtaking audacity and overreach, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Monday ruled that it will arrogate to itself the authority to re-draw the Commonwealth&#8217;s congressional districts, if the Pennsylvania General Assembly does not develop and Governor Wolf does not approve a new statewide congressional map in a matter of weeks.</p><p>&#8220;As Chief Justice Saylor states in his dissent to the court&#8217;s ruling, the &#8216;crafting of congressional district boundaries is quintessentially a political endeavor assigned to state legislatures by the United States Constitution.&#8217; &#8230; It is my hope that the defendants will appeal this terrible decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.&#8221;</p><p>To Toomey&#8217;s point, Republican lawmakers have already said they will be appealing.</p><p>Val DiGiorgio, chairman of the Republican Party of Pennsylvania, said the ruling throws &#8220;our elections into chaos and confusion.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;The Pennsylvania Supreme Court&#8217;s politically motivated decision is a partisan attempt to overturn the will of the legislature, which approved these congressional maps with Democrat votes in 2011,&#8221; DiGiorgio said. &#8220;Back in 2010, this same court said these district lines were constitutional &#8212; the only things that have changed between then and now are makeup of the court and Democrats being dissatisfied with the results.&#8221;</p><p>Meanwhile,Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez hailed the move.</p><p>&#8220;In Pennsylvania and across the country, Republicans have gerrymandered congressional maps to rig elections in their favor,&#8221; he said. &#8220;This practice undermines our democracy and deprives voters of an equal and meaningful voice at the ballot box.&#8221;</p><p>State Sen. John Yudichak, D-Plymouth Township, echoed those remarks by Perez.</p><p>&#8220;Monday&#8217;s Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision gives power back to the voters and ensures that they will have a voice in choosing who represents them in Washington, D.C. I look forward to working with my legislative colleagues in the coming weeks on this matter while also continuing to push for legislation that establishes an independent commission that will draw up Pennsylvania&#8217;s congressional and state legislative district maps.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">DiGiorgio </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/web1_Val-DiGiorgio.jpg</photo0><caption0>DiGiorgio </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/web1_Tom_Perez_150_150_s.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Perez </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/web1_Tom_Perez_150_150_s.jpg</photo1><caption1>Perez </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Republicans, Democrats split over court’s ruling