No reapportion order until next week

It looks like -- though it's not official -- that Democrats may get what they wanted and the old, 2001 state legislative lines will be used this year.

The state Supreme Court won't issue an order on the proposed 2012 lines til sometime next week, so time is running out to fix them in time for the April 24 ballot, and candidates are already circulating the petitions that kickoff the process.

From the AP:

By MARK SCOLFORO
Associated Press

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A spokesman for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court says the four-justice majority opinion that lays out why they invalidated new legislative district maps won’t be issued before next week.

Deputy court administrator Tom Darr said Thursday that the written opinion is a least several days away, but the justices realize it’s important that they release it quickly.

State lawmakers, potential candidates and political strategists are trying to determine what’s next after the bombshell decision announced late Wednesday.

A three-week period to gather signatures to get on the ballot is under way. The court says current state House and Senate district lines remain in place until a valid new map is approved.

It’s unclear whether the Legislative Reapportionment Commission will produce a new map in time for the April primary.