* Press release…
Moments ago, the Illinois House of Representatives Redistricting Committee concluded their first public hearing on the redistricting of Illinois’ Congressional map. U.S. Representatives Darin LaHood (IL-18), Rodney Davis (IL-13), Mike Bost (IL-12), Adam Kinzinger (IL-16), and Mary Miller (IL-15) released the following joint statement on the Illinois Democrats’ sham redistricting process:
“In Springfield and Washington, Illinois Democrats like to talk about empowering voters, but their sham redistricting process shows they only care about protecting their own political power. Illinois citizens have been clear that they want an independent redistricting process free of political influence, but as we speak, Democrat lawmakers are picking their own voters behind closed doors.
“We would hope Governor Pritzker keeps his campaign promise to veto any map drawn by politicians, but our failed governor has shown twice already that he’s perfectly fine with lying to the people of Illinois if it means his party can stay in power. The Democrats’ corruption in Illinois will continue as long as Pritzker and Democrats in Springfield can pre-ordain the results of elections before voters cast a ballot.”
- Ducky LaMoore - Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 3:02 pm:
“sham redistricting”
Is that you Bruce Rauner?
“…pre-ordain the results of elections before voters cast a ballot.”
Is that you Donald Trump?
- Dysfunction Junction - Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 3:04 pm:
Physician, heal thyself…
- Demoralized - Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 3:05 pm:
When they show the same righteous indignation towards Republican legislatures doing the exact same thing then maybe I’ll pay attention.
Maybe the Republicans in Illinois want to work on their message and figure out why they continue to be the super minority party in state government. You want a say in the process? Win elections.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 3:08 pm:
The Republicans shoulda brought their own maps to show how redistricting could be done.
I wrote that whole thing without snickering once.
- Precinct Captain - Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 3:10 pm:
The hearing was posted for almost a week. Why didn’t any of them testify?
- Fayette County - Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 3:23 pm:
Show me your maps and express your support for a federal bill ending gerrymandering throughout the country and then I will take your outrage seriously.
- thechampaignlife - Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 3:39 pm:
===as we speak, Democrat lawmakers are picking their own voters behind closed doors===
Democrat lawmakers? Our Republican congressional delegation could use a grammar refresher. I know I could as well, but this is an easy one for them to avoid.
Also, in this case, state lawmakers are picking the voters for Congressional seats, not their own seats.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 3:42 pm:
===We would hope Governor Pritzker keeps his campaign promise to veto any map drawn by politicians,…===
All legislative maps are drawn by politicians, whether it’s an appointed commission or an elected legislature, this is a political process and anyone involved is, by definition, a politician.
Also, spare me the outrage.
- Manchester - Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 3:53 pm:
Does anyone honestly believe the Republicans process to redistrict would be any different if they were the ones in power? I sure don’t. This is nothing more than turf protection and projection, an attempt to be relevant. It is as it ever was.
- TheInvisibleMan - Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 3:54 pm:
== they only care about protecting their own political power ==
Yes, Mary Miller has already told everyone what her intentions are.
Something something had one thing right.
- Just Me 2 - Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 4:10 pm:
=== Does anyone honestly believe the Republicans process to redistrict would be any different if they were the ones in power?===
Yeah, but they didn’t make a public pledge to do it one way and then in the dark of night did it a different way.
- Deep South - Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 4:16 pm:
Why does is seem that the only thing Republican can do is blame Democrats but never offer any solutions of their own.
- Saluki with a Job - Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 4:39 pm:
Interesting that Rodney Davis didn’t join the letter.
- Saluki with a Job - Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 4:39 pm:
Oops - my bad. He did.
- Union thug - Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 4:55 pm:
Correct me if I am wrong, didn’t the GOP vote against solving this issue at the federal level?
- Nick Name - Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 5:00 pm:
===Illinois citizens have been clear that they want an independent redistricting process free of political influence===
What’s the line from Game of Thrones? “Oh my sweet summer child.”
- JS Mill - Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 6:08 pm:
Lol, that was a good one ILGOP…oh wait. You guys are serious?
No, they are not.
=Yeah, but they didn’t make a public pledge to do it one way and then in the dark of night did it a different way.=
What is the different way? And spare us the hyperbole. They shared everything as they should have and the ILGOP continues to be the party of No.
And white supremacy.
- Huh? - Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 8:19 pm:
Put up or shut up.
- Just Me 2 - Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 9:25 pm:
=== They shared everything as they should have and the ILGOP continues to be the party of No.===
I assume this is snark because the Republicans certainly weren’t invited into the map room and asked how they would like the map adjusted to include their friends, family members, and favorite donors.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 9:39 pm:
- Just Me 2 -
Where are the Republican maps? Why didn’t they do… any?
- Free Market - Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 9:48 pm:
If Republicans are arguing politicians shouldn’t draw maps, then why would “they”, as politicians, draw and present a map or maps? Seems self-defeating, and that is why they didn’t.
- DQCardsFan - Thursday, Oct 7, 21 @ 10:40 pm:
The hypocrisy of Mike Bost is astounding. He’s forgotten his support for the Texas “Steal the Election” Supreme Court bid in which he joined with other Repubs to reverse a fair presidential election. He should have resigned after that thankfully failed effort to deny Americans their legal voting rights!
- PublicServant - Friday, Oct 8, 21 @ 5:00 am:
sham - check
Democrat - check
Madigan?
Fail.
- NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham - Friday, Oct 8, 21 @ 5:01 am:
I don’t think it will happen, but I would prefer a map that puts Chatham in a CD with the likes of the Quad Cities, Galesburg, and the Metro East rather than with nearby Springfield. Bring on this gerrymander. I’ve drawn a few maps to that extent on Dave’s Redistricting App.
- Quibbler - Friday, Oct 8, 21 @ 9:01 am:
Cry more.