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Supreme Court Keeps Revised Pa. Congressional Map In Place

WASHINGTON (CBS/AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court is keeping in place a revised map of Pennsylvania's congressional districts, turning down a request from Republican leaders in the state Legislature.

The court's order Monday declining to put on hold the revised map comes as incumbents and potential challengers are circulating petitions to get on the May primary ballot.

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The court is declining to halt a series of decisions by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court that threw out a 2011 Republican-crafted map and established a new map of the state's 18 districts.

Pennsylvania's 2011 map is generally considered among the most gerrymandered in the nation, and Democrats hope new district lines will boost their chances of reclaiming majority control of the U.S. House.

Republican leaders in the state legislature said they're "upset" by the decision from the three-judge panel. They pointed out the case was dismissed on legal issues, not on facts. They said they think there "are vital constitutional questions" that deserve to be heard.

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House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) issued the following statement:

"We are in receipt of the U.S. Supreme Court's one-line order denying our application for an emergency stay of the congressional map drawn by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. We continue to believe that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court overstepped its authority in an unprecedented fashion when it legislated from the bench, by adding new requirements for drawing congressional districts which do not exist either in the Pennsylvania Constitution or the U.S. Constitution, and by drawing its own map. Nonetheless, we respect the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court and are prepared to move on to other issues of importance to the people of Pennsylvania."

(© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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