Pennsylvania Likely To Lose One U.S. Congressional District

HARRISBURG (CBS) - When the governor and legislature sit down next year to redraw Pennsylvania's Congressional boundaries, it seems certain there will be one less district on the map.

Erik Arneson, spokesman for Chester Republican Dominic Pileggi, the Senate majority leader, says even though Pennsylvania's population has grown slightly, other states are growing faster, and all projections show Pennsylvania losing one of its 19 United States Congressional seats. He says the number one driving factor in redistricting is the need to have districts that are virtually identical in population:

"Looking at the numbers right now, it seems that there's been population loss in the western half of the state, some population gain in the eastern half of the state, so that's obviously going to be a big factor."

Arneson says the two districts that are most below ideal population are the 12th and 14th, in the southwestern part of the state, both held by Democrats. The ones most above are in the Lehigh Valley and south central, held by Republicans.

Reported by Tony Romeo, KYW Newsradio