Before the Supreme Court commissioned a new congressional map last year, Pennsylvania was among the most heavily gerrymandered states for congressional districts, and it still is for state legislative districts. That is because state lawmakers themselves control the redistricting process, and ruthlessly conduct it for their own benefit.

As if to emphasize that prevailing self-interest, lawmakers last year killed a reform effort. The original proposed constitutional amendment to create an independent redistricting commission was killed by lawmakers who amended it into oblivion or rendered it toxic with legislative poison pills.

So the state maintains its demonstrably corrupt system, which is fundamental to bad governance.

California eliminated a politician-controlled redistricting system following a statewide referendum in 2008, in favor of a 14-member citizens’ commission comprising five Republicans, five Democrats and four independent members.

In 2010, nearly 30,000 Californians applied to sit on the commission. In Pennsylvania, the same half dozen state legislative leaders responsible for the state’s poor governance also remain in charge of drawing new districts.