March 20, 2018

My FIFTY-THIRD Open Letter To Senator Pat Toomey

I'll be dropping this letter to Senator Pat Toomey in the mail today:
Dear Senator Toomey:

It's me, again - a constituent of yours who writes for the local Pittsburgh-based political blog, "2 Political Junkies."

I'd like to step away from asking you about any of the many Trump scandals now facing the nation and turn instead to a more local story - Pennsylvania Congressional redistricting.

The Hill reported that you referred to the recent State Supreme Court ruling striking down the Congressional Redistricting Act of 2011 as a "blatant, unconstitutional, partisan power grab that undermines our electoral process." You also refused to reject the idea of impeaching members of the State Court for that reaching that decision. The State Supreme Court in striking down the act, however, said that it "clearly, plainly and palpably violates the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania." It was from that point alone (which is to say, by relying only on state law), they found the Redistricting Act to be unconstitutional.

The United State Supreme Court, only yesterday, refused to overturn the State court's decision.

So here are my questions: Given all of the above, do you still think that the State Supreme Court decision is unconstitutional?  Do you still think it appropriate for state legislators to discuss impeachment for deciding that the then-current redistricting plan unconstitutionally favored one party (yours) over the other?

I await your response.
And I will be posting whatever response I get from him or his office.

UPDATE: This letter has been answered here.

Follow-up:

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