GOP House majority not representative

In “Deal to avoid the ‘fiscal cliff,’ ” [Opinion, Nov. 19] the editorial board starts out by making reference to the American people re-electing President Obama, while leaving Republicans “firmly” in control of the House of Representatives.

This statement requires a footnote. While Republicans hold a 53.8 percent majority in the House, they did so while receiving almost 500,000 fewer votes than the Democratic nominees. This is due to extreme gerrymandering, something the Supreme Court once ruled against but no one seems to have the will to challenge today.

If this country had a just and fair way of defining congressional districts, Republicans would not be so “firmly” in control, if at all. This is a scenario that must be changed if the House is to truly represent the will of the people.

— Murlin Varner, Woodinville