Thank you to The Express-Times for the Oct. 22 editorial pointing out the "bad joke" that is gerrymandering in Pennsylvania. Thank you for calling out the unfairness of our "tortured" congressional districts which discourage voter participation.

And thank you to The Express-Times for supporting the efforts of Fair Districts PA to amend the Pennsylvania state constitution to end gerrymandering. By creating an impartial, independent commission responsible for drawing congressional district maps, citizens will be picking their politicians, instead of the other way around.

But we Pennsylvania residents do not have to wait for the U.S. Supreme Court to rule on the Wisconsin case now before it. Rather, we need the legislation (House Bill 722 and Senate Bill 22) brought before their respective bodies. Get these bills out of committee and onto the floor for discussion and vote.

Our legislators in Harrisburg are using the U.S. Supreme Court as an excuse not to move on these bills.

Pennsylvania voters can help by emailing Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, chair of the House State Government Committee, or calling his office at 724-772-3110, and emailing Sen. Mike Folmer, chair of the State Government Committee, or calling his office at 717-274-6735.

Tell these legislators to schedule hearings on the bills that will end gerrymandering and restore the people's consent.

Mary Jo Crowley

Williams Township