SHAMOKIN DAM – The Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce hopes to get the answer it wants from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court today – have just one member of US Congress represent the four counties in The Valley.
On WKOK’s On The Mark Friday, chamber President and CEO Bob Garrett says the chamber, along with the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce, filed an ‘friend of the court’ brief with the state Supreme Court challenging the proposed US Congressional District Map, “The current map has western Snyder County represented by a congressman who lives in Altoona. If you know (U.S. Congressman) Fred (Keller, 12th, Kreamer), you know he lives in Kreamer. Wouldn’t it make more sense for western county to be represented by somebody from Kreamer. This is our one chance to get this right.”
Garrett says the chamber’s lawyer is currently in court, hoping to earn a ruling for the chambers, and have one member of US Congress represent them. He says the chambers’ proposal is, “This would have a single member of congress. It would be all of Union, all of Snyder, all of Northumberland, all of Montour, all of Columbia, Lycoming, Tioga, and Sullivan counties. A beautiful congressional district.”
The brief allows the chamber to weigh-in on the court’s discussions as an interested party. The state Supreme Court took over the redistrict process earlier this month, after the legislature and governor couldn’t agree on maps.
