Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf expressed his willingness to call a special session on redistricting reform if the state’s legislature reaches a compromise agreement.

On Thursday, Gov. Wolf reiterated that he’s been supportive of removing politics from redistricting even before he became governor. He supports a “true independent commission” to draw Pennsylvania’s congressional districts.

In April, the Pennsylvania House State Government Committee passed HB 722 to establish an Independent Redistricting Commission. Under the bill, the Republican and Democrat caucuses in the state House and Senate will will choose one member to serve in the Commission. The entire House and Senate will pick the fifth and sixth members. The members of the Commission is responsible for producing new boundaries for congressional districts every ten years.

Republicans attached amendments to kill redistricting reform bill

In June, the Pennsylvania Senate passed SB 22 to create an Independent Citizen’s Commission for Redistricting, with amendments. However, Democrats rejected the amendments by Republicans as a “poison pill.” Democrats also added their amendments to the bill.

The state Senate sent the bill with the attached amendments to the House for consideration. Lawmakers in the lower chamber left for the summer without voting on the bill.

In a statement Thursday, Gov. Wolf noted that the legislature advanced bills to address Pennsylvania’s redistricting reform. He encouraged leaders in the General Assembly to work together to finalize a compromise before the end of the month.

“If they do, I am ready to call a special session for a vote on a consensus bipartisan redistricting reform proposal,” said the governor.

Gov. Wolf made the statement as protesters set up a camp outside his home. They demanded the governor to call a special session on redistricting reform.

Xelba Gutierrez, founding member and organizer of March on Harrisburg, said, “We understand the urgency of creating fair ways of drawing our maps in order to have a voice in our democracy. We are willing to put our bodies, in multiple ways, in some risk in order to push this issue.”