HARRISBURG -- State lawmakers are scheduled to vote today on a "consensus" redistricting bill that will split Mercer County between two congressional districts.

Under the bill, a portion of the Shenango Valley will be moved into the 4th District represented by U.S. Rep. Melissa Hart, R-Allegheny. Communities affected are Farrell, Wheatland, West Middlesex, Shenango Township and a small portion of Hermitage: Division 3 in the southwest district.

The 4th district will also include all of Lawrence and Beaver Counties and parts of Butler and Allegheny Counties.

The rest of Mercer County -- including Sharon, Greenville, Grove City and most of Hermitage -- will remain in a renumbered 3rd district represented by U.S. Rep. Phil English, R-Erie. This district will include all of Erie County, most of Butler and Crawford Counties and expand tentacle-like in two directions to include parts of Warren, Venango and Armstrong Counties.

The bill -- which resembles, at least locally, a plan approved by the Senate in December -- was approved Wednesday by a leadership conference committee on a party-line vote. It now faces final votes from rank-and-file members in the House and Senate chambers. Lawmakers will only be able to vote yes or no on the plan and can't offer amendments.

One of the big questions to emerge out of the conference committee is whether the reshaped 4th District will prove Hart's undoing or a springboard for more GOP electoral gains in western Pennsylvania.

Hart, a first term congresswomen, served in the state Senate for a decade.

She has reportedly said she doesn't mind having Democratic-leaning Lawrence and Beaver Counties in her district and believes the two counties may be ready for a GOP realignment.

"It (map) reflects our collective belief that western Pennsylvania is taking a Republican turn," added Long.

However, state House Minority Whip Michael Veon, D-Beaver, has a different take on the situation.

Veon said Hart's district under the bill would have a slight Republican registration edge of 52 percent. But the right Democratic candidate in the right year could win the seat especially if the economy worsens, said Veon.

"Western Pennsylvania has a habit of voting Democratic in tough economic times," he added.

Overall, the bill reduces the size of Pennsylvania's congressional delegation from 21 to 19 members to reflect population gains in other states and is designed to give Republicans a 13-6 edge in that delegation.

The bill strengthens the political position of U.S. Rep. John Murtha, D-Johnstown. Murtha is a 27-year veteran of Congress and the ranking member on the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.

He had been considering retirement because of redistricting, but has said influential Republicans rallied behind him and convinced the GOP to back a plan that would let him run for a 15th term in Congress. Republicans reminded state lawmakers that, without Murtha to bring defense money to Pennsylvania, they might jeopardize federally funded projects for the state

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Both the Senate and House need to agree on a common bill for it to become law.