While the new congressional map replaced heavily gerrymandered districts with more balanced ones, the larger question on how to reform the entire redistricting process remains with the legislature, write Liz Navratil and Jonathan Lai for the Philadelphia Inquirer.

“We may have better maps, but we haven’t fixed the process,” said David Thornburgh, head of the Philadelphia-based Committee of Seventy that is advocating for fairer maps.

This week, two initiatives heralded by a group of state senators and two state representatives restarted discussions on the proposal. They want an independent citizen commission instead of lawmakers to set the congressional and legislative district boundaries.

Advocates had been trying to press for this change, but the conversation was put on hold while legal battles over congressional districts took place.

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“I would have had three hearings already, but the lawsuit got in the way,” said State Senator Mike Folmer.

Despite the obstacles, Thornburgh believes there is some hope.

“This was a steep climb from the get-go,” he said. “So the odds have never been in our favor. But sometimes you have to stay on mission.”

Read more about the push for reform in the Philadelphia Inquirer here.

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