Your Opinion on Redistricting Matters

Wednesday is the deadline for residents who want to share their opinion on a proposal that would affect how Pennsylvania municipalities would be represented in the state General Assembly.

Here is some information on the proposal and its effect on Lower Macungie Patch:

• The proposal would not change representation in Lower Macungie and Alburtis, but would change the state Senate seat for Macungie.
• In the state House, Lower Macungie, Alburtis and Macungie would continue to be part of the 134th district, currently represented by Republican Doug Reichley. And the Senate seat for Lower Macungie and Alburtis would still be the 16th, held by Republican Pat Browne.
• Browne's seat also would include Macungie. The borough is currently part of the sprawling 24th district, represented by Pennsburg-based Bob Mensch, a Republican.
• One of the plan's most drastic measures would strip Mensch's seat of all Lehigh Valley municipalities except Williams Township in Northampton County.
• To make your voice heard by the Wednesday deadline, submit comments via the 2011 Legislative Reapportionment Commission’s website at www.redistricting.state.pa.us.
• The website also allows users to access detailed maps of the redistricting proposal and watch videos of the various meetings and hearings the commission has held.
• State officials plan to have the new map in place for the 2012 election.

Sources:
*Commission website
*League of Women Voters of the Lehigh Valley government directory
*Legislators' websites: Bob Mensch, Doug Reichley and Pat Browne.