* The governor has been quite silent and the Republicans want to hear his thoughts…
Representative Elizabeth Hernandez
Chair, House Redistricting Committee
109 Capitol Building
Springfield, IL 62706
Senator Omar Aquino
Chair, Senate Redistricting Committee
627 Capitol Building
Springfield, IL 62706
Dear Chairs Hernandez and Aquino:
Comments from Members of the Democratic party during hearings on the 2021 redistricting process lead us to believe that the majority fully plans to enact new maps for both the Legislature and U.S. House of Representatives through a process that includes Governor Pritzker signing legislation by June 30, 2021.
To date, not a single House or Senate hearing has included testimony from the Governor or anyone representing his office.
We request the Governor, or a high-level member of his office, testify at our only scheduled joint House-Senate hearing on Monday, April 19, 2021, 5:00 p.m. in East St. Louis.
In March of 2018, then-candidate JB Pritzker said that without a constitutionally-implemented independent commission, “I would urge Democrats and Republicans to agree to an independent commission to handle creating a new legislative map”.
On January 30, 2020, Governor Pritzker stated “we should have compact, contiguous districts as best we can.” Additionally, the Governor added “I am going to veto any unfair map that gets presented to me.”
On January 5, 2021, the spokesperson for the Governor reiterated the position by saying the Governor “has been clear he will veto a partisan map.”
Given the Governor’s numerous stated positions in favor of fair mapping, as well as a commission process for redistricting, it is vital that both the people of Illinois and our Committees hear directly from the Governor in a public hearing as to his views and plans for redistricting.
We ask that you immediately invite and confirm the Governor’s presence at the April 19 hearing so plans can be made accordingly.
Sincerely,
Senator Jason Barickman
Spokesman, Senate Redistricting Committee
Representative Tim Butler
Spokesman, House Redistricting Committee
Frankly, I wouldn’t mind seeing that, either. I’ve asked Pritzker’s office for comment.
*** UPDATE *** Jordan Abudayyeh…
As the Governor has said, he believes legislative maps should reflect Illinois’ gender, racial, and geographic diversity, along with preserving the Voting Rights Act decisions that help ensure racial and language minorities are fully represented in the electoral process.
* Meanwhile, I went over this topic with subscribers earlier today…
The statement below can be attributed to Sen. Omar Aquino, D-Chicago, Chair of the Senate Redistricting Committee, and Sen. Elgie Sims, D-Chicago, Vice Chair of the Senate Redistricting Committee:
“As Republicans nationwide seek to silence Black and Brown communities, Democrats in Illinois remain committed to the creation of a fair map that reflects the great diversity of our state. We have invited communities of interest across Illinois to participate in this process, including establishing an online portal that allows anyone to draw and submit their own proposed maps. Meanwhile, Republicans are presenting the public with a false choice by promoting legislation that is legally unsound. They know a bill cannot supersede the Illinois Constitution, which requires the General Assembly to undertake the redistricting process every ten years. Democrats are focused on inclusion, not legally questionable distractions.”
* Related…
* Tom Kacich: Will Illinois Democrats opt for inferior data in map-making?
* Aurora hearing gives residents chance to speak out on redistricting
* Who Draws The Line? - Northern Illinois Residents Discuss Redistricting During Recent Hearing
* Elected officials, witnesses debate best ways to redraw legislative districts at CLC hearing
- Simple Simon - Monday, Apr 12, 21 @ 2:51 pm:
Typical Kacich. Lots of complaining and generating outrage but not one bit of context on why it is happening.
- not for nothing - Monday, Apr 12, 21 @ 2:55 pm:
What JB has never said:
“I will veto a map sent to me by the General Assembly in the form of a bill.” Short of that unequivocation, it’s all noise.
- Norseman - Monday, Apr 12, 21 @ 3:28 pm:
=== Will Illinois Democrats opt for inferior data in map-making? ===
It’s near impossible to meet IL’s constitutional redistricting deadlines if they wait until the final data is released. It would also be political malpractice for the Dems to wait. Doing so will give the GQP a chance at controlling the maps. Given that party’s anti-democratic direction, that should not be allowed to happen.
- DuPage Saint - Monday, Apr 12, 21 @ 3:32 pm:
Winners draw the map. Republicans are not winning in this state at this time. And with the candidates I see on the Republican side they should start worrying about the 2030 map. And I sorta still am a Republican. The interesting map will be the aldermanic map and Democratic Congressional
- Rich Miller - Monday, Apr 12, 21 @ 3:34 pm:
===“I will veto a map sent to me by the General Assembly in the form of a bill.”===
LOL
Are you on drugs or something? How are you supposed to enact a map without legislation?
- Norseman - Monday, Apr 12, 21 @ 3:37 pm:
=== Will Illinois Democrats opt for inferior data in map-making? ===
They have to since it’s near impossible to meet Illinois’s constitutional deadlines otherwise. Waiting, guarantees that the GQP will be in a lotto to determine who controls the mapping process. Given that party’s anti-democracy bent, that would be an unacceptable result.
- Norseman - Monday, Apr 12, 21 @ 3:42 pm:
Editorial Note
I didn’t intend to post 2 similar comments, but the first seemed to have disappeared in that great purgatory comment box. After pushing the submit on the recreation, the first one went through.
- Not for nothing - Monday, Apr 12, 21 @ 4:03 pm:
Not on drugs.
The point is simply this. In all of those statements, JB hasn’t ruled out signing a map crafted by the General Assembly enacted via statute as opposed to the independent commission if there’s a deadlock. Until he does, it’s all noise.
- NotRich - Monday, Apr 12, 21 @ 4:18 pm:
Dear Gov: us here in the SUPER MINORITY demand that you talk to us OR ELSE !!! HaHa
- Blake - Monday, Apr 12, 21 @ 4:19 pm:
What’s the website anyone can draw proposed lines? Will they release submissions publicly?
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Apr 12, 21 @ 4:49 pm:
To the update,
Are folks like Barickman or Butler against the Voting Rights Act.
That would be interesting to know.
- Candy Dogood - Monday, Apr 12, 21 @ 6:00 pm:
The GOP isn’t worried about a minority vote, they’re interested in a minority veto.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Monday, Apr 12, 21 @ 6:16 pm:
“A lot has happened since I first ran for office that has shaken my confidence in a bipartisan commission.
Republicans, led by Donald Trump, made four months of false claims of voter fraud in an attempt to undermine our election.
On January 6th, Republicans, led by Donald Trump, stormed the US Capitol, killing a police officer, in an attempt to overturn the election.
And most recently, Republicans in Georgia and across the country have engaged in a naked effort to enact Jim Crow laws intended to diminish the votes of African Americans.
Through all of this, not a single Republican in the Illinois General Assembly has stood up to call out Fonald Trump for his lies, call out Donald Trump for leading a violent assault on our democracy, or call out Republicans in Georgia and elsewhere who seek to deny the descendants of slavery the right to vote.
You ask me why I have lost faith in a commission that would give control over our democracy to a party that is committed to the destruction of democracy, and you have my answer.”
Or something like that. At some point, you gotta stop playing defense.
- JS Mill - Monday, Apr 12, 21 @ 6:18 pm:
The cynic in me thinks the ILGOP is baiting our governor looking for red meat for their base. I still say let the ILGOP draw the map and then continue to make them the super minority party anyway. All they have right now is the map to blame for the fact that they have been soundly rejected.
- Conservative Veteran - Monday, Apr 12, 21 @ 6:39 pm:
I hope the Republicans will get what they want. In Dec. of 2010, I emailed about five state legislators, and I suggested that, when they draw the congressional, state senate, and state house maps, they use the Iowa method. I said that, in Iowa, they use a computer program that doesn’t consider ethnic groups, incumbents, or parties. I got a reply from an aide to State Rep. Dan Brady. She said, “Our maps will be drawn by Speaker Madigan and Senate President Cullerton.” Since both of those leaders are gone, maybe, the new leaders will consider the views of other people.