* 11:41 am - Gov. Pat Quinn just took some bill action that won’t be appreciated by the Republicans. From a press release…
“The people of Illinois provided input at public hearings for both the congressional and state legislative maps. I have carefully reviewed the congressional redistricting map. This map is fair, maintains competitiveness within congressional districts, and protects the voting rights of minority communities. I would like to thank Sen. Kwame Raoul and Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie for their commitment to encouraging public participation in the remap process.”
I’ll post some congressional news items in a few.
* 12:09 pm - Tribune…
Pat Brady, the state’s Republican Party spokesman, said Quinn’s signature on the map after the governor had said he wanted fair and competitive boundaries was “a little disingenuous.”
“I wish he would have been more honest and just said that he’d sign the map,” Brady said. “This is what we’ve come to expect from him since he was sworn in.”
The congressional map received the least amount of scrutiny of the political boundaries drawn by Democrats this year. Though Democratic state lawmakers held several public hearings, very little time was devoted to the congressional map that was unveiled for Memorial Day weekend.
“They held a bunch of preliminary hearings and that’s great,” said Whitney Woodward of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform. “But throughout the process, what we and other groups asked for were hearings and the data to consider a new map. Instead, we saw a couple of hearings on draft maps without much demographic information.”
* 1:38 pm - From a press release…
Republican members of the Illinois Congressional delegation today issued the following statement after Governor Pat Quinn singed into law the Democrat proposal to re-draw the boundaries of Congressional districts in Illinois:
“We are disappointed that Governor Quinn chose to sign into law this flawed map, thereby proving that his actions do not match his rhetoric. Despite his expressed desire for “openness and fairness,” Governor Quinn instead rewarded his Democrat allies by approving this highly partisan map that tears apart communities and disrespects the will of Illinois voters as expressed in last fall’s election.
“Governor Quinn said that a fair redistricting process required hearings. Yet the map was unveiled on a Friday and passed the following Monday, with no hearings. Governor Quinn said that the way in which district lines are drawn contributes to the success of our democracy. Yet the map he approved seeks to reverse the results of a democratic election. Governor Quinn advocated for a fair and open process. Instead, he has guaranteed an unfair and closed one.
“This map will be challenged in court, and we do not expect to comment further on a matter that now will be the subject of litigation. As we have said before, we do not believe this map will stand.”
Congressman Tim Johnson was the only member of the state’s Republican delegation who didn’t sign the letter.
* AP…
Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady says the new congressional district lines the governor has approved is an attempt to “silence” voters.
Brady says voters sent a GOP majority to Congress just last fall. He says the map signed into law Friday by Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn is unfair to Republicans. […]
Brady says Quinn “lost all claims to the label ‘reformer’” by approving the map and says he hopes courts will overturn it.
* Mark Kirk talks to WLS…
“Well, I think that there will be a lawsuit that will likely be brought before a Republican judge who picks two other judges to sit on a panel, and they will review the legality of denying Latino voters their full representation in the Congress. And I expect that lawsuit will come to a decision in October or November,” Kirk said.
Kirk says he believe the chances in a court of law are “pretty good.” [Emphasis added.]
It’s so nice to know that Sen. Kirk believes Republican judges are purely partisan animals.
* A few congressional stories…
* Freeport Mayor Gaulrapp to Announce Bid for 17th District: After falling short in his first bid for congress, Freeport Mayor George Gaulrapp is going to give it another try this time in a different district. Gaulrapp tells me he will make an official announcement on Saturday morning that he aims to represent the 17th District in congress. In 2010, the Freeport democrat lost to long time 16th District congressman Don Manzullo. But now Freeport and parts of Rockford is in a district that stretches along the Mississippi River from the Wisconsin border all the way down to the quad cities.
* Former state Rep. Jay Hoffman may throw hat in ring for Illinois House or Congress: “I’m going to make a decision probably within the next month-and-a-half or two months,” Hoffman said in an interview Thursday.
* Congressman From Champaign Hopes To Represent Montgomery County
* Schilling, others invite president to arsenal
* Aaron Schock throws out first pitch
- lake county democrat - Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 11:55 am:
It’s not appreciated by fair-minded Democrats either. Politic.com called it one of the most gerrymandered maps in U.S. history. It’s particularly offensive for the Democrats to keep pushing the “public input” meme as an excuse whenever the public says anything about remapping they support politic-blind maps. Almost from the instant he became Governor when he opposed a special election for Obama’s vacant senate seat, Pat Quinn has revealed his lifetime of championing political reform was nothing more than an act.
- Esquire - Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 12:00 pm:
Joe Walsh just managed to redeem the mortgage on his property that was facing foreclosure. Talk about bad timing!
- lake county democrat - Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 12:13 pm:
Sorry, correction: Quinn opposed a special election prior to becoming Governor when it looked like he would get to make the pick after Blago impeached. Then Blago appointed Roland.
- grand old partisan - Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 12:21 pm:
The Governor’s reasons for considering this map “fair” are as nonsensical as they are disingenuous.
“Competitive??”
What does he even mean by that?? If he means that the partisan balance has been equalized, he’s being either too modest or dishonest, depending on the partisan affiliation of your current Congressional Representative.
“protects the voting rights of minority communities”
Huh?? I’m pretty such minorities were still going to still have the right to vote, regardless of the district lines where drawn. I think he means that minority communities will continue to have gerrymandered districts to ensure that someone of a certain racial community wins.
- Angry Chicagoan - Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 12:25 pm:
The main problem downstate is the lack of competitive seats. With 13 and 16-18, they could have gone for four competitive seats; instead, they’ve produced two seats clearly for the Democrats and two clearly for the Republicans, while splitting some small metros in the process that probably should not be split. Besides, what’s the deal with protecting Shimkus? But that pales compared to the gerrymandering in the southern and western parts of the Chicago metro. In particular, incumbent protection reared its ugly head again, mostly on behalf of Lipinski and Jackson.
- Wensicia - Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 12:35 pm:
Well, depends on what your definition of ‘fair’ is…
- SirLankselot - Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 12:44 pm:
Of course Governor Quinn is going to say it’s fair. What else is he supposed to say? “This map will render the Illinois GOP impotent for the next decade. Hey, that reminds me of a story. . .”
- dave - Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 1:00 pm:
**“protects the voting rights of minority communities”
Huh?? I’m pretty such minorities were still going to still have the right to vote, regardless of the district lines where drawn. **
You don’t know much about the Voting Rights Act, and the related redistricting lawsuits, do you?
- wordslinger - Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 1:01 pm:
For a Tea Partier, Schilling learned in a hurry that there’s no such thing as too much federal spending at Rock Island Arsenal in the Quad-Cities.
The Army has been trying to phase out operations there for decades. It’s been only through the bipartisan efforts of those like Harkin, Grassley, Simon, Dixon, Durbin, Leach and Evans that you still have 7,500 jobs there.
If Schilling starts pushing for a federal replacement for the Arsenal Bridge, then you’ll really know he’s caught Potomac Fever.
- Whistler - Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 1:10 pm:
Any educated/purely speculative thoughts (or links to some) regarding the GOP’s chances in court?
- Gregor - Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 1:29 pm:
Hoffman, really? I just can’t imagine how he thinks he can escape Blago’s gravitation now. I used to really like this guy, until he turned to the Dark Side.
- grand old partisan - Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 1:43 pm:
dave,
I do. But there is a difference between claiming compliance with a specific Act or court order and generically referencing ‘voting rights.’ Coupled with the Governor’s use of the subject “fair” to describe the map – as opposed to the more objective “legally and judicially compliant,” for example – creates the impression that there was a some unspecified threat to minority disenfranchisement lurking out there.
- grand old partisan - Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 1:44 pm:
pardon me, that last line should have been “enfranchisement,” not disenfranchisement.
- lake county democrat - Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 2:04 pm:
Disenfranchisement is a red herring. Say, for example, the insanely drawn 4th district was split into two parts, for example, the Latino clout might well elect one or even two Congressmen. Or they might elect no racial Latinos but two representatives that would have no choice but to strongly advocate the Latino community’s agenda. The only map that would truly cause civil rights concerns is one that would try to splinter the two large Chicago Latino concentrations in the 4th into 4-5 districts in a blatant attempt to keep their influence down. The obvious solution is to make the maps drawn by neutral algorithm, with slight adjustments allowed to keep cities/counties in tact or acknowledge natural boundaries like rivers. If Iowa can do it, we can do it.
- Team Sleep - Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 2:10 pm:
I don’t imagine the court case will prevail - or even make it to an actual court hearing. I could see it easily dismissed before any substantive action would take place. Right now, all eyes are on the South and Texas. The DOJ may go after the Texas GOP for their map and, as always, the South is under a similar microscope. But we are initiating the suit. Even a GOP-nominated federal judge would have to look a precedence and rule down the line as opposed to ruling in a partisan manner.
Is anyone really surprised that Quinn signed this? On the federal level, the precedence has been set when a party with ultimate control draws maps. The same goes for Illinois. The Dems control the Governor’s Mansion, the GA and the Supreme Court. We had two chances to tilt the playing field in our favor - win the Governor’s Mansion and knock off Chief Justice Kilbride. We failed at both.
- Logic not emotion - Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 2:17 pm:
Obviously, the map isn’t fair or representative for the general populace. None of the Illinois maps have been and anyone with a shred of integrity has to secretly admit that. I don’t think that is even the story.
The more intriguing story to me is Quinn himself. How does a man who spent a large part of his life fighting against bad politics reconcile within himself the man who is now so brazenly engaging in them? I like to think he is still that good guy at heart. If so, the maps and many of the things he has done in the last year have to be eating him up inside.
- wordslinger - Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 2:20 pm:
–Obviously, the map isn’t fair or representative for the general populace.–
How can a map not be representative for the general populace? Is it a map of California?
- lake county democrat - Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 2:22 pm:
With one veto, Quinn could have redeemed himself as a true reformer. As for court review, chances are slim (the courts upheld the 2010 map, though one could argue this one is even worse).
- lake county democrat - Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 2:25 pm:
Kirk’s comments make no sense - first you have to go to district court. And do judges at the apellate court get to pick their 2 co-panel judges?
- Ahoy - Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 2:35 pm:
I actually wonder (I’m not smart enough to have an opinion on this matter) if the Congressional Map might have a chance of being stricken down. I’m not talking about the State map here, just the Congressional Map. Just looking at the numbers, it does not appear to give the Latino population their “fair share” of majority-minority seats. I believe that we actually only have one majority Latino seat and three majority African-American seats but our Latino population is higher. I could be wrong on this and if I am, please correct me.
If I do have my information correct, this seems like it could be a justifiable legal challenge. Although, it always depends on the judges. All judges have the same thing in common. They are either a Republican or a Democrat.
Of course either way, if the Republicans in this state were smart, they would find away to use these maps for political gain, just as the Democrats have. I would run a Latino and Asian community backed Fair Map Amendment and get the signatures to ensure it’s on the November ballot. Maybe even tie it to a redrawing of the maps for 2014. Too bad their not very smart here.
- Anonymous - Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 2:37 pm:
I agree that Governor Quinn needs to stop using the language “public input” and “fair” when discussing the congressional map. Anyone can see with the Chicago representation into DuPage, Will, and Kankakee counties that are mainly right-leaning, is not representational at all. Quigley, Rush and Jackson are not going to suddenly change from their progressive views to mid or right of center in order to ensure all constituents have a voice in their districts.
- Walter Mitty - Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 2:37 pm:
“Brady says voters sent a GOP majority to Congress just last fall.”
and a very very large majority sent Barack Obama to the White House just 2 years before that.
(with even greater turnout)
- Chad - Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 2:53 pm:
It will all come down to whether the Republicans and friendly Hispanic plaintiffs can adequately state a cause of action based on a statistical and geographic analysis minority voters. If it can be proved by a preponderance of evidence that two Hispanic-American majority maps can be drawn, there is a good case to require a change. Raw numbers of voters and the geographic dispersion of voter residence location will be key to the analysis. It is difficult to win these cases if you are arguing for two Hispanic American districts, but neither is a clear, safe win. In this regard the Hispanic civil rights organizations seem to be siding with the Democrats that one incredibly safe, easily-won district is better than two districts that candidates will have to work hard to win. It is almost impossible to argue that anyone could credibly take on Gutierrez in the new district (very similar to the old one), so he and his supporters can be expected to oppose the “two district” argument. If the Republicans were able to effectively state their case, they could really tear into the Democratic Party strategy, because two districts for Hispanic Americans would probably be accompanied by maintaining the current number of African American districts. This would rip into the strategy to give safe districts to people like Lipinski, and maybe even Quigley.
- Chad - Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 3:05 pm:
Some additional info: The three current A.A. districts have 63, 69 and 51% black populations. The new A.A. districts reflect the slower growth and dispersion of A.A. population with 53, 56 and 54% black populations. The current and new H.A. districts “pack in” an eye-popping 74 and 71% Hispanic population. You would think there has to be an opportunity to argue for 2 districts.
- Pat Collins - Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 3:09 pm:
How does a man who spent a large part of his life fighting against bad politics reconcile within himself the man who is now so brazenly engaging in them?
Because he is now in charge. Maybe, if he had been co-opted earlier, he would not have been such a reformer.
- Bill F. - Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 3:22 pm:
“review the legality of denying Latino voters their full representation in the Congress.”
Yeah, that’s not disingenuous. Because if there’s one thing the GOP has become known for in recent years, it’s their burning desire to ensure fairness and equality for Latinos.
- Walter Mitty - Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 3:25 pm:
exactly Bill. Sudden interest in latino representation. Shocking to be sure. Ahem. Wonder what the teasters think about that?
- Wensicia - Friday, Jun 24, 11 @ 3:42 pm:
Kirk pretends an interest in Latinos whenever he runs for office. I’m not surprised he’s using them here.
This isn’t the right thread, but I propose a gag order for Kirk, I’ll bet a Republican judge would be happy to issue the order.