The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to step in and block a new congressional district map in Pennsylvania, again rebuking Republicans who are fighting hard to preserve a 2011 plan that has given the party a considerable electoral advantage. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court struck down the former map in January, saying it gave Republicans such an advantage that it violated the state constitution’s guarantee that elections be free and equal. The court ruled that the map violated that provision because it diluted the votes of Democrats, thus making them unequal. House Speaker Michael Turzai (R) said in a statement that while he continued to believe the map ordered by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court was unconstitutional, he would accept it and move on. The lawmakers failed to reach an agreement, so the court issued its own map on Feb. 19.

Source: Huffington Post March 19, 2018 19:23 UTC