Smart Talk: Taking politicians out of redistricting; Early childhood education program in Harrisburg

What to look for on Smart Talk Thursday, February 4, 2016:

We live in a partisan society politically.  Some say the Congress is as polarized along party lines as any time in our history.  How did we get that way?

Many point to Congressional reapportionment practices by states like Pennsylvania as one of the culprits.

Using U.S. Census population statistics that are collected every 10 years, the state legislature in Pennsylvania gets to draw the state legislative and Congressional district boundaries.

The majority party in the legislature wields a lot of power over what those final maps will look like.  Often, the districts are developed or gerrymandered in a way that would make it easier for candidates from the majority party to be elected or re-elected to office.

Democratic State Senator John Wozniak is proposing taking redistricting out of the hands of lawmakers and setting up a commission to draw the district lines.

Wozniak describes his plan on Thursday’s Smart Talk.

We often hear that early childhood education – learning in a structured setting before a child enters kindergarten – is one of the keys to a child growing up to be a good student.  Research also indicates early children education is especially important for children living in poverty.

The Joshua Group is a non-profit that operates a program for kids in Harrisburg’s Allison Hill.

Kirk Hallett, founder and director of the Joshua Group joins us on Thursday’s program.