* Sunday’s extensive remap coverage is here. You’ll also notice that just above the news feeds on the far right side of the page is a new pull-down index of handy remap links. Check ‘em out and provide us more links in comments if you can find them.
* Last night, the Senate Democrats passed three shell bills over to the House which will likely be used as vehicles for the new maps. The Senate Republicans cried foul. From a press release…
Senate Democrats apparently short-circuited the ability of individual senators to offer changes to the once-a-decade redrawing of state and congressional district boundaries on Sunday.
By passing three “shell” bills to the House which contained no content, the Senate likely surrendered the opportunity for members to offer up amendments or changes to the measures.
As the measures were being pushed through during a late Sunday afternoon session, Deputy Senate Republican Leader Dale Righter (R-Mattoon) said the “shells” were being rushed through to make it easier for Democrats to adopt a final map “before anyone has got a chance to catch their breath, and look at the lines and figure out what’s going on.” […]
The three bills passed on party-line votes in the Senate (SB 1177, SB 1178 and SB 1179) contain nothing more than titles. The maneuver allows the House to add all the detail to the legislation and then send it back to the Senate for a single up or down vote with no opportunity for Senators to offer individual amendments.
Senate Republicans will now have to hope that their House counterparts can introduce amendments for them, if that’s even allowed.
* The most interesting story to come out of Sunday’s House remap hearing…
Shortly before the hearing, House Democrats released racial and ethnic data behind the new districts they drew. The map shows 16 districts with a population of voting-age African-Americans ranging from 50.08 percent to 62 percent. It also showed 11 districts in which voting-age Latinos make up 50.4 percent to 78.3 percent of the population.
Combined with Senate districts devoted to minorities in the map, 39 of the General Assembly’s 177 seats would come from boundaries in which a majority of voters were from racial or ethnic groups.
But the United Congress of Community and Religious Organizations said at the hearing that lawmakers could have crafted 57 such “minority-majority” districts. The group noted that under the current boundaries, there were six House districts with 65 percent or more of voting-age Latinos — a figure that would drop to three in the new map.
The rare Sunday hearing highlighted a fissure among groups advocating for greater Latino representation that developed a day earlier during testimony by a state Senate remap panel. Democrats had hoped in the mapmaking process to placate two key constituencies even though Latino population increased in the state while black population dropped significantly, primarily in Chicago.
* My weekly syndicated newspaper column is, of course, also about the remap…
Statehouse paranoia and angst always are at an all-time high every 10 years in Springfield.
Why? The new state legislative district maps are drawn, and that highly political process always involves generous amounts of partisan mischief-making and revenge.
This year is no different. The Democrats control both legislative chambers and the governor’s office, so they can pretty much draw any map they want as long as they follow federal and state voting rights laws which protect minorities and other “communities of interest.”
The Republicans, locked out of power and influence, just knew they were in for a beating, and they got one. In many respects it probably wasn’t as bad as it was 10 years ago, when the Democrats drew a map so solidly partisan that the House and Senate Democratic majorities easily survived one of the biggest Republican landslides in history.
Partisanship aside, though, imagine being told that the only way to keep your job was to sell your house and move your family a few miles, or even a few blocks. That’s what some legislators have to go through every 10 years during remap season, and it’s what quite a few Republicans are facing — again — this time around. Several have been mapped into districts with fellow Republicans. One of those legislators in each of those districts will have to retire, move or suck it up and run in a primary against a fellow GOP legislator.
So, when Republicans like state Sens. Kyle McCarter and Dave Luechtefeld are put in the same district, reporters heard some very angry complaints. Luechtefeld’s house has essentially been pulled out of his old, deep southern Illinois district and put into a new district farther north that is (for the most part) currently represented by Republican Sen. John O. Jones. Jones’ house has been put in what is now Luechtefeld’s district. A big chunk of McCarter’s current district has been shoved at fellow Republican Sen. Sam McCann.
Confused? That’s the whole idea, man.
A new map usually means representing new territory, and that means legislators must get to know thousands, even tens of thousands of voters who have no idea who they are. That can be a dangerous thing in these politically volatile times. But in the case of Luechtefeld and Jones, they have to either familiarize themselves with almost 200,000 new faces or move, or retire.
The Republican pairings are quite numerous. Sens. Tim Bivins and Christine Johnson are in the same district. The Democrats even paired Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno with Sen. Ron Sandack. Sandack likely will run for a House seat.
Over in the House, southern Illinois Republican state Reps. Ron Stephens and John Cavaletto are in the same district, as are central Illinois Reps. Dan Brady and Keith Sommer. Eastern Illinois Reps. Chapin Rose and Bill Mitchell have been put together.
The mischief goes beyond pitting two Republicans against each other. Northwest suburban Republican Rep. Sid Mathias has been placed in the same district as Democratic Rep. Carol Sente. The district clearly favors Sente, so Mathias will either have to move or take a big risk.
Clearly, some of these folks had better hope the housing market improves soon.
And it’s not just the pairings which grate on the minority party’s nerves every ten years. Much of Sen. Dave Syverson’s Rockford-area district was taken from him so the Democrats could create a very favorable district for Marla Wilson, whom the Dems backed against Syverson last year.
I could go on, but I’m pretty sure you get the idea. Keep something in mind here if this all makes you angry. Two constitutional amendment were proposed awhile back to change the way districts were drawn. Backers of both proposals fell far short of the required petition signatures. Some of the same Republicans who are griping now about the way the maps are drawn probably should’ve put a whole lot more effort into one or both of those amendment petition drives.
Many of those Republicans might not have worked on those constitutional amendments because they figured they’d win the governor’s race and that would be enough to block the Democrats from drawing the map without a fight. After all, how could they possibly lose after Rod Blagojevich’s impeachment and during an inept Pat Quinn administration? Oops.
* And we already have a candidacy announcement before anybody knows what the final congressional map will look like…
A Hoffman Estates man who finished a close second in the Democratic primary race for Illinois comptroller in 2010 said Saturday he is eying a run for Congress in 2012.
Raja Krishnamoorthi, 37, said he is forming an exploratory committee Monday to seek the 8th Congressional District seat currently held by Republican and tea party favorite Joe Walsh, who defeated three-term Democrat Melissa Bean of Barrington by 291 votes last November. […]
Krishnamoorthi says he would expect to challenge Walsh in an 8th District that includes the Northwest suburbs. Bean has said she will not seek her old seat, and Krishnamoorthi is the first Democrat to launch an exploratory committee in a congressional race that should draw national interest in 2012.
* Remap roundup…
* Dems on redistricting defensive: Republicans and groups like the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform and Change Illinois said the Democrats are rushing to approve a map and are not being open enough to the public. State Sen. Dale Righter, R-Mattoon, criticized a legislative maneuver referred as a shell bill, which is essentially a placeholder for latebreaking proposals. The map could be placed in a shell bill and fast-tracked to a vote
* State legislative maps released, but may change: “Ten years ago the Democrats put out one map, waited a few days and then they put out another map that had substantial changes to it, including in downstate districts. So everyone, whether they’re involved in the political process or not, needs to take a deep breath and recognize that this thing is very much drawn in pencil now.”
* Remap makes for tough road ahead for some suburban lawmakers
* Remap plan criticized, praised at public forum
* Suburbs Appear Slighted in New Legislative Maps
* Lawmakers anticipate changing boundaries
* New legislative map could split Mendota: Mautino’s district — the 76th — would change slightly. The northern border in Mendota is U.S. 34, which leaves part of the city in the 90th district, represented by Jerry Mitchell (R-Sterling). Mautino’s district also would expand east to include Ottawa and Marseilles; currently, the 76th district includes only part of Ottawa. The 75th district, represented by Pam Roth (R-Morris) would lose part of Kankakee and Iroquois counties, extending north instead into Kendall County.
* VIDEO: Sen. Raoul on redistricting
* VIDEO: Sen. Righter on redistricting
* VIDEO: Rep. Fortner on redistricting
- bored now - Monday, May 23, 11 @ 6:35 am:
i find the criticism that the remap is being rushed kind of silly. everybody knows the deadline (may 31st). and everybody realizes when the census data was made available. it’s a tight deadline.
elections have consequences. republicans keep telling us that we have to deal with it on the national level. it’s a wee bit hypocritical to suggest that they shouldn’t have to deal with it when they are the ones adversely effected.
bring on the congressional map; that’s really what we are waiting for…
- wordslinger - Monday, May 23, 11 @ 7:07 am:
–Keep something in mind here if this all makes you angry. Two constitutional amendment were proposed awhile back to change the way districts were drawn. Backers of both proposals fell far short of the required petition signatures. –
No point complaining now, the hay’s in the barn. The outraged need to get to work on a Constitutional amendment.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Monday, May 23, 11 @ 7:42 am:
Angry? Oh, I see, this is all the fault of stupid Illinois Republicans. As is the budget crisis. Pension crisis. Back bills that were run up with knowledge that there was no money to pay for them crisis.
Democrats are driving the car. The result is all Democratic Party. The stupid Republicans could have offered better solutions to how the Democratic Party is running and has run Illinois into the ground, but their voices aren’t heard, considered or needed, unless of course, some Republican votes are needed to protect Democrats.
And why protect Democrats? So they can stick it even harder to Republicans? Springfield is truly dysfunctional.
The repeated attempts to blame Republicans for Democratic Party abuses is beyond old and tired. The bully in the school yard is not the Republican Party of Illinois.
First, John Cullerton “invites” Republicans to file amendments to the remap bills, then rams three shell bills through. So Democratic Senators voted for blank pages?
No one sees the irony in voting for “blank pages” here?
- LouisXIV - Monday, May 23, 11 @ 7:44 am:
Is the racial and demographic information the House Dems released available online somewhere? All of the stories that mention it don’t give a link.
- CircularFiringSquad - Monday, May 23, 11 @ 7:48 am:
Has anyone dropped an FOI on the House & Senate GOPers to see where the millions they got for remap went?
So far all they have offered are all the those pained questions that try to make it appear they are concerned about Hispanics and African Americans.
BTW Mike Fortner, the GOPs smartest member-just ask, is not at all convincing in this roll. Let’s get RXRon in the driver’s seat (opps).
How about important Indy’s Mitch D. he seems to have a time on his hands.
Did the cash go in some lawyer’s pocket so it could be recycled in 2010?
Are the GOP lawyers the same who filed Gags Brady’s federal suit?
Answers pleeeeze
- Shore - Monday, May 23, 11 @ 7:48 am:
Of all the congressional races next year, the walsh race is the one that will have the most national significance and I think be one of the top ones to watch. He is mr. tea party and if he gets destroyed that could be a sign the tea party was a one and done deal.
It’s a long time to 2012, but krishnamoorthy could be a test of the indian-american community’s clout and ability to start winning races. He could also end up like hoffman as a resume superstar and election day loser.
The column was good although, I could have easily seen it written about the infamous puppy vote that brady took that brought forth that ad that dominated a lot of conversation on the blog last year.
- Cincinnatus - Monday, May 23, 11 @ 8:32 am:
Unlike Federal House districts, Illinois does not require equal numbers of people in a GA district. Running precinct by precinct numbers in my new House district shows it to be 16k people more than the average one would get if you divide the new census number by the number of House seats. Fair map and representation indeed.
Rich, here’a a good QOTD:
“Should Illinois House and Senate districts be required to have equal or near-equal sized districts?”
- 44 - Monday, May 23, 11 @ 9:02 am:
Cincinnatus: GA districts are required to be of equal population. At yesterday’s hearing Barbara Flynn Currie said that all the districts are at equal population so either she perjured herself, or your calculations are wrong.
- just sayin' - Monday, May 23, 11 @ 9:05 am:
“…imagine being told that the only way to keep your job was to sell your house and move your family a few miles, or even a few blocks.”
News flash. This is happening all over the country to regular people, especially in this economy. It’s called the real world. And usually someone’s not moving a few blocks, they often move hundreds of miles for a better opportunity.
Maybe if these whiny Republicans had led instead of just playing games and pointing fingers, maybe fewer people with real jobs would have to be moving.
No one is going to shed a tear for a single one of these GOP lawmakers. Remap is about the people, not about self-centered politicians.
And actually it’s not true they have to move to keep their lawmaker job. They could get over themselves and actually start working and talking to their voters instead of just pretending they are relevant or that anyone cares.
- Cincinnatus - Monday, May 23, 11 @ 9:06 am:
Each precinct in the district was counted using the Census data available for 2010.
- 44 - Monday, May 23, 11 @ 9:18 am:
Just because a precinct is in your district doesn’t mean the entire precinct is in your district. Mapmakers work by block to get the populations equal, so if you’re counting the entire population of each precinct your numbers are going to be wrong.
- oh please - Monday, May 23, 11 @ 9:20 am:
Rich: tell me if this is correct or not. If it is, I stand corrected, but:
didn’t the Senate and House Rules before (1992 - in the case of the Senate, and 1994 - in the case of the House) require that all amendments be considered and voted upon before moving to third reading? Now who changed those rules? The GOP!
Since the Republicans were the ones that changed the rules this way when they were in control, they only have themselves to blame.
Also, my understanding is that they very well could have offered amendments. They would have been refered to the Assignments committee and probably not considered, but they still could have been offered. They should have had these ready as floor amendments for when these shell bills came up.
Is this correct, Rich? If so, the GOP press release really is stretching the issue.
- chuddery - Monday, May 23, 11 @ 9:21 am:
Cincinnatus, the Supreme Court says that the Constitution requires equal population. That’s why states like CA may no longer have Senate districts based on counties.
- oh please - Monday, May 23, 11 @ 9:28 am:
Cinci-check out the definition of a “split precinct” when you return to the farm after nobly serving the citizens of Rome.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Monday, May 23, 11 @ 9:28 am:
@Louis -
I can’t tell if you’re angry at the voters for electing a Democratic majority and Democratic governor or angry at Republicans for failing to put forth a viable alternative to the Democrats.
I can tell you one group of folks who is not angry about the remap: Joe Voter.
Joe Voter doesn’t care — actually doesn’t feel one bit of sympathy — about the fact that Christine Radogno and company will have to actually campaign for re-election. Or hey, for that matter not run for re-election.
The sense of Entitlement pouring out of some GOP elected officials and their small band of loyalists is falling on deaf ears.
Its like a Wild Card team complaining that the Pennant winner has home field advantage.
Boo-hoo.
- Cincinnatus - Monday, May 23, 11 @ 9:40 am:
The enabling Joint Resolution says “substantially equal” whatever that means. There is no requirement for equal districting in Illinois, unlike the Federal level.
- oh please - Monday, May 23, 11 @ 9:49 am:
Cinci: not doing too well today, are you?
Reynolds v. Sims, 377 U.S. 533 (1964) was a United States Supreme Court case that ruled that state legislature districts had to be roughly equal in population.
from wiki. Still in effect.
- Logic not emotion - Monday, May 23, 11 @ 10:11 am:
“Remap is about the people, not about self-centered politicians.”
If this were really the case, we’d have some outside group drawing districts rather than the political gerrymandering we have.
“I can tell you one group of folks who is not angry about the remap: Joe Voter.”
I don’t think the average voter really understands the process or implications. If they did, even in the apathetic poltical landscape of Illinois, I think they would be upset - not regarding the legislators so much as the process and how it is done.
What is the difference between “substantially equal” and “roughly equal”? Aren’t they approximaely the same? For sure, neither one equates to “absolutely equal”.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Monday, May 23, 11 @ 10:25 am:
@Logic not emotion -
Yeah, and “if” the average voter understood the state budget and the cuts that are being laid out by Republicans, or that the borrowing bill actually saves money, then a remap would be the least of Radogno and Cross’s worries.
“If” is a very big word.
The fact is, the average voter doesn’t care about the remap, never has and never will.
The only folks who do care are the politicians who are worried about losing their government paycheck and stepping out into the real world which they created.
And a NARROW band of political insiders.
I much prefer the attitude of Rep. Fortner, who’s taken a “that’s Life” approach to the whole thing.
Of course, he has real life, employable skills to fall back on.
What’s Radogno going to do? Go back to being a social worker after she decimated the social services sector?
- Obamarama - Monday, May 23, 11 @ 10:25 am:
Article IV Section 3 of the Illinois Constitution:
(a) Legislative Districts shall be compact, contiguous and substantially equal in population. Representative Districts shall be compact, contiguous, and substantially equal in population.
Stop embarrassing yourself, Cincinattus.
- Robert - Monday, May 23, 11 @ 10:41 am:
===Joe Voter doesn’t care — actually doesn’t feel one bit of sympathy — about the fact that Christine Radogno and company will have to actually campaign for re-election.===
Completely agree. I do think some Joe Voters do care when their city is carved up into 4 different districts.
- walkinfool - Monday, May 23, 11 @ 10:58 am:
One thing some advocates are not fully considering is that populations change in the years between the census — and what is 56% Hispanic voters in a given district now, could be forecasted to average 65% over the next ten years.
- Meanderthal - Monday, May 23, 11 @ 11:11 am:
I still shake my head at the irony that most people of good will have worked to eliminate race bias, yet race is blatantly used to draw these districts.
I hope I live long enough to see race taken out of the discussions in these matters.
- Just saying.. - Monday, May 23, 11 @ 11:37 am:
I don’t understand why UNO is getting this credit for drafting the Latino Remap when it is HDO “Victor Reyes” that is behind this effort to maintain power for his reps and senators. UNO is the new HDO and are just as corrupt, please someone audit the financials of this organization that has managed to steal $98 million for school construction. Not paying prevailing wages, using non union firms, exploiting their firms for contributions, pat to play contracting, etc.
- SE IL Dem Chairman - Monday, May 23, 11 @ 11:57 am:
It’s intriguing that Lawrence County was so carefully gerrymandered into two separate House districts to dilute its voting power. Is there someone in Lawrence County the current area House members don’t want to face with all of his county behind him???
- Bitterman - Monday, May 23, 11 @ 11:59 am:
Just sayin’, “No one is going to shed a tear for a single one of these GOP lawmakers. Remap is about the people, not about self-centered politicians.” Just saying that does not make it so. Remapping is THE PRIZE for politicians in Illinois. Please don’t delude yourself or try convincing readers otherwise.
- 47th Ward - Monday, May 23, 11 @ 12:37 pm:
God I am so bored. When is the Congressional map going to be unveiled?
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Monday, May 23, 11 @ 12:54 pm:
=== I do think some Joe Voters do care when their city is carved up into 4 different districts. ===
LOL. Yep, lawmakers hear that going door-to-door every day:
“What’s your #1 issue?”
“The Map.”
- just sayin' - Monday, May 23, 11 @ 1:05 pm:
Well said Yellow Dog Democrat.
Yes the big concern of the average voter out there is what’s being done to ease the anxiety of those politicians now fearing they’ll have to work harder to keep their cushy state jobs with the bloated pay and benefits.
- Liandro - Monday, May 23, 11 @ 1:54 pm:
Just sayin’, I’m not sure you could be any more wrong.
I don’t know where to start, so I’ll just point out the most obvious idiocy: your argument that this remap is “about the people”. If you are going to run interference for the Dem party, don’t be so obvious. The remap is clearly about Dem’s picking their voters, AND their opponents voters. It’s not even a little bit about the people, except where the limitations of the law come into play.
I haven’t howled about the remap much because that’s politics, and the R’s are doing it in other parts of the country where THEY won. But to here IL Dem hacks talk about this thing like it is noble or honorable, and that the R’s are just whiny for pointing out the inherent flaws, is just plain ridiculous.
About the people, my gosh man…
- The Captain - Monday, May 23, 11 @ 2:18 pm:
Dear sir, what was the offending element that caused my comment re: 8th CD to get deleted? I thought it was fairly non-controversial. Eh?
- overcooked - Monday, May 23, 11 @ 2:18 pm:
The Republicans had an opportunity to present a map that protected municipal and minority interests and possibly themselves. It would have been only for the sake of the argument, but at least they could have had an argument, instead of the whining posture they find themselves in.
- chi - Monday, May 23, 11 @ 2:19 pm:
To reiterate LouisXIV’s question… does anyone know if House district demographic data is available online? the newspaper stories stating the House Dems released it before the committee fails to give direction on how to get it.
- Rich Miller - Monday, May 23, 11 @ 2:27 pm:
TC, if you gotta ask…
- The Captain - Monday, May 23, 11 @ 2:32 pm:
I’m not trying to be a jerk here but I honestly don’t know what the offense was. It was on topic, not drive by, had some (admittedly benign) substance, I’m not a sock puppet, don’t work for any of the parties involved, etc.
The comment wasn’t that important to me, certainly not worth this much back and forth but I honestly don’t know what I did to offend you.
- Rich Miller - Monday, May 23, 11 @ 2:35 pm:
Dude, you matter of factly called a sitting congressman “crazy.” That’s a bit much.
- Team Sleep - Monday, May 23, 11 @ 2:38 pm:
Actually, YDD, I work for an elected official in an area broken up by a form of gerrymandering and constituents do call and complain. People in Springfield certainly don’t appreciate being lumped into three Congressional Districts. I don’t think people in Lawrenceville are too keen on having two Congressman for a town of less than 4,000 people. It’s confusing and irritating for voters to call one office only to find that another official represents them.
- Ela Observer - Monday, May 23, 11 @ 2:46 pm:
Smart move on Krishnamoorthi’s part, declaring early candidacy for the 8th CD. He currently lives in the 8th but could easily be redistricted into the 16th, which will be unwinnable for a Democrat. If that happens he can run in the 8th & blame Springfield for being redistricted out.
- The Captain - Monday, May 23, 11 @ 2:48 pm:
I won’t debate the point, appreciate the explanation. Thanks.
- Shore - Monday, May 23, 11 @ 3:35 pm:
ela I’ve wondered about the political calculus of candidates seeking to run for congress in 2012. I am sure there’s a playbook, but it’s interesting, if you declare early do you tip your hand but get a head start or if you wait and miss getting the jump.
- Ryan from Carrollton - Monday, May 23, 11 @ 4:52 pm:
44 and Cinci,
State legislative districts are given more lee-way in redistricting than Congressional districts. Typically state leg districts are given a 10 percent population deviation (this is not to be considered a “hold safe” number though. Jonathan Winburn in his 2008 book on legislative redistricting showed where state legislative districts violated the 10% rule, but were overturned instead for violating other criteria) while Congressional districts are typically given 1% as long as justification is provided (a district in Pennsylvania was found unconstitutional in I want to say 2000 because it had a population deviation of 19 individuals without justification.)
- Robert - Monday, May 23, 11 @ 5:38 pm:
I can’t imagine Ryan from Carrollton’s 1% could be correct as Illinois lost more than 1% of its congressional representatives; if each new district was less than 1% different from its old district, you’d leave some people district-less!
- Ela Observer - Monday, May 23, 11 @ 6:09 pm:
Shore, I don’t know if there is much downside in declaring early for Congress. Especially when you need a $ million upfront to be competitive in Illinois.
- G. Willickers - Monday, May 23, 11 @ 10:52 pm:
@ Louis Atsaves: “substantially equal” ….
C’mon man. I’ll grant that you’re a lawyer and a not a mathematician but how else would you translate the fact that prime numbers cannot be evenly divided?
Those kinds of CYA phrases have always been on the books because some districts end up with 1 more voter than a neighboring district.
That’s what “substantially equal” means.
Take your partisan hat off and think for a minute.
Say the state’s population is 37 (yes, low, but it serves the analogy’s purpose).
Those 37 people have to be divided up into 12 districts.
You get eleven districts of 3 voters and one district with 4 voters.
I don’t see the real state lege districts with 1 extra voter taking over the entire state but your anti-majority party partisanship may be blinding you to this rather simple to grasp concept.
- G. Willickers - Monday, May 23, 11 @ 10:55 pm:
@ Rich and The Captain:
“Some say” actively advocating the elimination of the Dept. of Education, Medicare, etc. could be considered crazy.
Others just call it colorful.
Still others call it conservative.
I prefer “John Birch Society” but not enough people know who those cats are.
- just sayin' - Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 12:56 am:
If GOP lawmakers are remapped away and no one notices, does it matter?