* Gov. JB Pritzker yesterday…
We believe in getting rid of gerrymandering. We Democrats.
He then went on to say that Republicans started it by gerrymandering so many congressional districts.
* Illinois House Republicans…
Governor Pritzker’s record tells the real story:
That is not reform. That is not democracy. And it is not what he promised the people of Illinois.
While Governor Pritzker continues to warn about threats to democracy in Washington, he ignores the damage his own partisan maps have done here at home by disenfranchising voters and rigging the system in favor of politicians.
And if his comments on gerrymandering were not bad enough, the Governor also tried once again to claim he is focused on lowering the cost of living. He stated, “We are very focused on lowering costs for folks.”
Illinois families know the truth. Under Governor Pritzker and House Democrats, Illinois has become number one for all the wrong reasons:
The Governor can try to spin his record, but working families are living with the consequences every day.
- JS Mill - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 11:35 am:
=• Highest property taxes in the country
• Highest combined state and local tax burden
• Highest cell phone tax in the nation
• Highest tax rates in the nation=
They might be batting .250 if the cell phone thing is true but the rest are not. It helps if you actually tell the truth, which is always a bit of a challenge for politicians but in this case it is apparently not possible for the ILGOP.
- Montrose - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 11:36 am:
It may be a semi-fair hit, but I don’t think voters care a whole lot about gerrymandering. They may not like it, but that’s not driving their vote.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 11:48 am:
I am going to keep saying it until Republicans accept the truth:
On litmus test issues on which many voters base their votes, 80% of Illinoisans reject the GOP platform.
What voters see when they look at GOP:
- Ban abortion, no exceptions
- Oppose all gun control, even for assault rifles
- Oppose collective bargaining and unionization
- Oppose equal rights for gay Americans
- Oppose clean air and clean water protections
- Oppose anti-discrimination laws for race and gender
When you consider how wrong the GOP is on a laundry list of issues, and that around 80% of Illinois voters disagree with the GOP on these issues, the IL GOP is actually over-performing.
If the GOP wants to start being competitive again — and I really wish you would try - you need to start recruiting candidates who reflect the values of today, not 1952.
Stop blaming the map, and take a long look in the mirror.
- New Day - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 11:49 am:
If Republicans are prepared for a national fair maps initiative then rock on. But given their disenfranchisement fetish designed to hurt poor people and minorities and penchant for mid-cycle redistricting, they can take their hypocrisy and go pound Mar-a-Lago sand.
The ILGOP is so tragically lost they’re just flailing anyway. But who knows, maybe Don Tracy and Darren Bailey can save them…
- Yinka - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 11:51 am:
I’m sure Illinois Republicans can point to all their party support for the bill the Democrats introduced in Congress to get rid of the Congressional gerrymandering?
Oh, it got zero votes from Republicans? Because they rely on it to have any chance of controlling the House? Well, carry on then Governor.
- JS Mill - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 11:54 am:
=If the GOP wants to start being competitive again — and I really wish you would try - you need to start recruiting candidates who reflect the values of today, not 1952.=
Heck, even 2002 would be a massive improvement.
=But given their disenfranchisement fetish designed to hurt poor people and minorities and penchant for mid-cycle redistricting, they can take their hypocrisy and go pound Mar-a-Lago sand.=
Restaurant quility right there.
- Think Again - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 11:56 am:
=but the rest are not=
Yep, you’re right - Illinois is second worst, only by a few bucks in terms of Property taxes.
50 Illinois 2.01% $6,694 $263,300 $5,298
51 New Jersey 2.11% $7,022 $454,400 $9,590
https://wallethub.com/edu/states-with-the-highest-and-lowest-property-taxes/11585
- Annon'in - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 11:58 am:
Apparently GOPies forgot to notice federal courts have affirmed the various remaps over recent decades. Perhaps they may want to admit their candidates, ideas, tactics all S*(^
Oh and how about TRUMP????
- Garfield Ridge Guy - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 12:07 pm:
I think the Governor should not say “We believe in getting rid of gerrymandering” if he does not believe in getting rid of gerrymandering when it’s used in response to GOP gerrymandering. The truth is precious; we become more like the GOP when we are careless with it. The Governor is substantively right, of course; it’s just careless to lie like that.
- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 12:07 pm:
Just to be clear, when you say Illinois House Republicans, do you mean all three?
- Casper the Ghost Bus - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 12:16 pm:
The House Republicans were going to do a fair maps roadshow, but they can’t afford the gas.
- Gideon - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 12:16 pm:
How has Governor Pritzker helped lower the cost of anything?
Has he restored faith in democracy by vetoing partisan maps drawn by politicians as he promised?
He’s 0 for 2 which is why he is not a contender for the nomination.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 12:20 pm:
===which is why he is not a contender for the nomination===
People really need to stop making their pet peeves into THE DECIDING FACTOR in a national political contest that doesn’t culminate until August of 2028.
I mean, seriously, I’ve just about lost my patience over this utter nonsense.
- Grandson of Man - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 12:20 pm:
It’s gaslighting. Trump and Republicans are forcing Democrats to gerrymander. They need to revisit the president’s position and actions regarding the 2020 election, then talk about unfairness.
Same with affordability. They are dead-silent on tariffs, war, gas prices, home insurance prices, weak job growth and inflation in general. The party of personal responsibility and adults in the room has given one person carte blanche to do this.
- JB13 - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 12:24 pm:
If only there was a way to show you believe what you say.
But Illinois Republicans, and Trump, I know, I know
- Demoralized - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 12:29 pm:
I have very little tolerance for Republicans complaining about dangers to democracy and gerrymandering when their President has insisted that state gerrymander in order to make sure the Republicans keep control of Congress. So spare me the outrage.
As for cost of living, their Republican President hasn’t done a lot for that either. His tariffs have driven up costs and his war have accelerated those cost increases. So again, spare me the outrage.
Republicans in Illinois whine a lot but that whining hasn’t done them a whole lot of good in terms of electoral success here. Their messaging doesn’t work. Their ideas aren’t accepted by the majority of voters. Until they try something other than what they are trying they will continue to remain in the minority. The voters aren’t buying what they are selling. And yet they continue doing and saying the same things. You’re not winning. Maybe try and figure out why instead of whining all the time.
- Norseman - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 12:29 pm:
JS Mill +1.
- Anon62704 - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 12:32 pm:
=They are dead-silent on tariffs, war, gas prices, home insurance prices, weak job growth and inflation in general. =
Inflation at the highest level in 2 years; gas prices in March increased at the fastest rate ever recorded; energy prices up 11% last month, the highest monthly increase in 20 years.
If the ILGOP wants to champion affordability, they can start by standing up to their dear leader.
- ZC - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 12:51 pm:
I am open to discussions about gerrymandering reform but if you start with a discussion that squares or rectangles are the core component of a “fair” map - as long as the districts are as compact / as tiny square-shaped or tiny-rectangle shaped as possible, Democrats in IL are gonna check out fast. Because compactness as your #1 goal is going to heavily benefit Republicans.
Republicans may think “well obviously districts around Chicago should be packed up with 90+% Dem support and thus districts should be drawn to minimize Democratic competitiveness in as few districts statewide as possible…” But, shocker, Democrats are somehow not gonna see it that way.
You can’t solve gerrymandering reform in IL until you figure some way to deal with the problem that emphasizing compactness = automatic Republican bias, and yes it is a bias; just look up at Wisconsin. The GOP legislature there emphasized compactness around Milwaukee and Madison and there were statewide elections where the Democrats actually got more votes statewide, but Republicans comfortably held 60+% of the actual seats in their state House. If that’s not a severe gerrymander, nothing is.
- lake county democrat - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 1:00 pm:
As anyone unfortunate enough to have read my comments know, I hate gerrymandering so much I’m ok with “unilateral disarmament.” But unless these GOP critics can point to public condemnation of the national GOP when Joe Manchin invited them to write their own bill banning partisan gerrymandering nationwide if they didn’t like his proposal, they should sit down in shame.
- lake county democrat - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 1:04 pm:
ZC - the Constitution requires that districts have near-equal populations. Why doesn’t that address the “compactness” issue? If you’re drawing the districts neutrally you’re going to create more swing districts to be sure, but not because of compactness.
- Google is Your Friend - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 1:17 pm:
==- lake county democrat - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 1:04 pm:==
What does “neutrally” drawing a district mean?
- ZC - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 1:25 pm:
lake county dem,
But nearly-equally populated districts don’t have to be compact. The districts already are basically equal in population; that’s one of the few stipulations the Supreme Court still mandates. But you could stretch out a district until it looked like a pool noodle, or squash it into a square as part of an urban metro, and both could have nearly-equal populations.
- sulla - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 1:28 pm:
“The Governor can try to spin his record, but working families are living with the consequences every day.”
Dear Illinois GOP:
American conservatism as an ideology has failed.
You control all three branches of the federal government. You have enacted every policy you’ve ever wished for and all you have delivered to the American people over the last decade is misery and despair.
Go. Away. Nobody is listening to your nonsense anymore. Your entire party is heading for a generational time out starting with the midterms.
- Gideon - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 1:35 pm:
The Governor travels to New York to participate in a forum run by Al Sharpton for potential nominees.
it’s not unfair to criticize the discrepancy between his record and his rhetoric and the correlation to his lackluster polling at 3.3%.
https://www.racetothewh.com/president/2028/dem
- Stephenson County - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 1:55 pm:
After the 1990 census the Il. GOP did the redistricting. In 1992, Democrats in NW Illinois lost their congressman and state representative due to GOP gerrymandering. Cry me a river current GOP.
- Gideon - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 1:56 pm:
American Conservatism as an ideology has failed?
Republicans have enacted every policy they ever wished for over the last decade?
That is some serious smoke you are blowing.
Ever heard of 60 votes in the US Senate as a requirement for just about everything?
If what you say is true why did voters elect a Republican President and a Republican Congress just 18 months ago?
Perhaps you have it exactly backwards.
- JS Mill - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 2:02 pm:
=and all you have delivered to the American people over the last decade is misery and despair.=
Not if you are a misogynist or rascist. /s
=Has he restored faith in democracy =
What has the ILGOP or the national party done “restoration” wise? I mean other than attempt to prosecute the president’s political adversaries or overturn election results or confiscate ballots or voting lists or prevent people from voting?
- Gideon - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 2:36 pm:
One thing the GOP has done to restore faith in democracy is through election integrity measure like voter ID.
Requiring all voters to show government issued photo ID is supported by 83% of US adults.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/americans-support-photo-id-vote-democrats-oppose-save-america-act-rcna259549
- Pundent - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 2:45 pm:
=Requiring all voters to show government issued photo ID is supported by 83% of US adults.=
There’s a lot more to the SAVE Act than this. It is a voter suppression tactic full stop. And it’s claiming to solve a problem (voter fraud) that does not exist.
- Norseman - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 2:49 pm:
=== One thing the GOP has done to restore faith in democracy is through election integrity measure like voter ID. ===
LOL. Drinking too much Kool-aid, huh. Lying about fraud and inventing unneeded and harmful faux solutions is a tool to destroy confidence and democracy.
- Gideon - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 3:09 pm:
So over 80% of voters support a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist?
It’s just that kind of logic, taking the 20% side of 80-20 issues that worked out so well for the Democrats during last national election.
Voters want elections decided promptly like the rest of the world seems to be able to accomplish , not 3 weeks later.
They could just support a reasonable compromise and triangulate instead of knee jerk opposition to a popular proposal.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 3:18 pm:
===not 3 weeks later===
When has counting lasted 3 weeks in Illinois?
- Demoralized - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 3:25 pm:
@Gideon:
There’s no problem to be solved. Period. The claim is that somehow not knowing the night of an election means there’s fraud going on. That’s nonsense. There is no widespread fraud. What Republicans are attempting to do is make voting as hard as possible. There is absolutely nothing “reasonable” about what is being proposed. You’ve just bought into the nonsense conspiracy theories about voting and want a “solution” for a problem that doesn’t exist.
- illinifan - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 3:26 pm:
What is announced on election night is an educated projection. Until all votes are fully counted and certified it is not official so there is always an extended delay. Based on local laws there may event be a mandatory recount before certification can occur. The SAVE act will not do much to speed up this process. In presidential elections it is not official until the electoral college meets. It is time for the population to get some baseline civic lessons on how elections are conducted and finalized.
- Aaron B - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 3:29 pm:
I will only support having to show government issued photo ID when that requirement is no longer a poll tax. Even if there wasn’t a ton of other voter suppression language in the SAVE act, it still does nothing to remove the poll tax parts of requiring ID.
At the end of the day, this is still a solution looking for a problem. If there was actually widespread voting fraud then fine, lets get and ID requirement in place. When the fraud rate is at 0.0000845% then I can’t really be bothered with caring about it.
- Demoralized - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 3:31 pm:
Also @Gidon, your Dear Leader has signed an Executive Order attempting to create a national voting list and mandating that the US Postal Service not deliver any mail in ballots to people unless they are on that list. That kind of nonsense is not “restoring faith in democracy.” It’s actively working against democracy. I don’t know what has happened in this country to some people but it isn’t good. I’m ashamed of this country.
- Leslie K - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 3:33 pm:
==It helps if you actually tell the truth, ==
To be fair–the truth might not actually help ILGOP in their current positions.
Which leads to a common refrain of mine: If you have to lie to make your point, you don’t actually have a point.
- Gideon - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 3:33 pm:
The election integrity measures are national proposals designed to fix messes like 38 days (over 5 weeks) to count all of the votes and certify elections in California, that have national implications.
https://calmatters.org/newsletter/california-certified-election-results/
- Rich Miller - Friday, Apr 10, 26 @ 3:35 pm:
===fix messes like 38 days===
And at the same time, your party is demanding hand-counting of ballots in some states.
This is all just ridiculous.