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This just in… Quinn doesn’t love his own party’s remap plan - Vote fails

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Illinois

* 1:52 pm - The House is debating the Democrats’ redistricting proposal at the moment. You can listen or watch here.

Gov. Quinn said today that he’s “not excited” about the Democratic plan, which is opposed by Republicans and reformers…

“I’m not excited about that. It’s awfully complicated. I’m not sure it’s a reform or not, to be honest.”

“I just think the best way to have redistricting is to set up competitive districts that are not gerrymandered to make sure the people have the best representatives,” said Quinn after a groundbreaking ceremony in Glenview for a pharmaceutical company building its headquarters there with $4 million in tax credits. “Too often this is an exercise of protecting incumbents of both parties. I don’t think that’s healthy.” […]

“I’ve always felt that redistricting has been way too political in our state, by both parties. So if I’m governor I’m going to try and be the person who makes sure we do it right for the people and not for the politicians.”

React…

The sponsor of the Democratic plan today bristled when hearing about the governor’s comments. Chicago State Sen. Kwame Raoul says Quinn has never told him he opposed the plan.

Raoul says the governor’s decision to talk to the media first would be “highly disappointing.”

* 3:49 pm - The redistricting bill failed to achieve a three-fifths majority, as expected. We’ll post some videos later.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Apr 29, 10 @ 1:56 pm

Comments

Quinn makes the same point I do… if we’re going to do redistricting, the most important characteristic of the map is competitive districts… not pretty lines.

Comment by John Bambenek Thursday, Apr 29, 10 @ 1:58 pm
Welcome to the debate Governor. It’s too late.

Comment by Old Milwaukee Thursday, Apr 29, 10 @ 2:00 pm
Chalk one up for Quinn.

Comment by Moving to Oklahoma Thursday, Apr 29, 10 @ 2:01 pm
Pat Quinn on redistricting, “It is complicated, I really don’t understand it, I don’t really like it, but I am sure Mike Madigan will put one of those little post thingies telling me to “sign here.”"

Comment by the Patriot Thursday, Apr 29, 10 @ 2:06 pm
Ive got 2 days in the Quinn flip flop on this issue pool. Vegas is going to set the over/under at 4 days. No way he lasts that long without flipping.

Comment by fed up Thursday, Apr 29, 10 @ 2:06 pm
The good news is Quinn won’t be around much longer and he won’t have to fret about such complicated issues as redistricting.

Comment by arresteddevelopment Thursday, Apr 29, 10 @ 2:09 pm
The Governor doesn’t play any role in putting constitutional amendments on the ballot. He can lobby, of course. But that’s it.

Comment by John Bambenek Thursday, Apr 29, 10 @ 2:14 pm
hmmm, sounds like sen. raoul never sought input from the governor’s office. which makes it sound like they never thought the governor was a factor in re-districting. (one of the reasons democrats would like to win these governor races in ohio, michigan, florida and even illinois is because governors usually have to sign redistricting bills.)

Comment by bored now Thursday, Apr 29, 10 @ 2:19 pm
If the House doesn’t put 3/5 of their members on the final map, what difference does it make?

Comment by Tom Joad Thursday, Apr 29, 10 @ 2:24 pm
Highly disappointing, yes. Surprising, no.

Comment by Left Leaner Thursday, Apr 29, 10 @ 2:31 pm
I agree with him on the redistricting plan; so I give his some credit for being right on the substance.

But for someone who has spent his life in politics, Quinn sure is a lousy politician - he doesn’t respect process and he is far too honest.

Comment by Robert Thursday, Apr 29, 10 @ 2:33 pm
Aha! The inner populist re-emerges from the governor’s soul.

Comment by One of the 35 Thursday, Apr 29, 10 @ 2:35 pm
Thanks Tom, you beat me to it.
Also, it’s a constitutional amendment, it doesn’t go to Quinn’s desk, it goes to voters. So he’d be free to vote against it in November but otherwise, BFD on his opinion.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Thursday, Apr 29, 10 @ 2:35 pm
Quinn is right and he is governor. What’s he going to do about it?

Tonight, I guess we’re supposed to take a cardboard cut-out and a flashlight to cast a soy-boy shadow across the clouds to get him to do something? “Save us Soy Boy from the wicked GA!”

Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Apr 29, 10 @ 2:38 pm
“But for someone who has spent his life in politics, Quinn sure is a lousy politician - he doesn’t respect process and he is far too honest.”

I’m willing to try “far too honest” for a change. How many more of these have we got?

Comment by Way Way Down Here Thursday, Apr 29, 10 @ 2:50 pm
Quinn strategy…. Ready, Fire, Aim…..

Comment by Ghost Thursday, Apr 29, 10 @ 2:57 pm
Quinn is not stupid…if the Dems want their redistricting plan what are they willing to give Quinn in return? Crazy like a fox…this is most probably a shot across the bow at Madigan for not calling the income tax bill in the House…want to wager that these two will get together before end of session and play let’s make a deal?

Comment by Loop Lady Thursday, Apr 29, 10 @ 3:17 pm
Representative Mulligan just spent the last five minutes screaming about how she wouldn’t get a fair district if she didn’t “suck up” to the legislative leaders who are in control of the map. She kept talking about how she and her republican colleagues won’t get fair districts to run in…Um, that sounds like an argument about her as an individual. She did not once mention whether or not the remap plan is good or bad for constituents. At least we know what she is all about now.

Comment by Really?? Thursday, Apr 29, 10 @ 3:18 pm
I forgot, do the HDems have a 3/5ths majority?

Comment by heet101 Thursday, Apr 29, 10 @ 3:25 pm
Oh, no they don’t. So they won’t be passing this SJRCA 121…ever.

Comment by heet101 Thursday, Apr 29, 10 @ 3:26 pm
Didn’t Raoul strongly advocate for Quinn over Hynes?

Wonder if he’s regretting that yet?

Comment by Hisgirlfriday Thursday, Apr 29, 10 @ 3:28 pm
LL I doubt quinn put that much thought into his comment. But if he did its a bad idea, attempts to strong arm mjm never work out well for those makeing the attempt

Comment by ghost Thursday, Apr 29, 10 @ 3:32 pm
==Quinn is not stupid==
Don’t bet the ranch on that, Loopie

Comment by Bill Thursday, Apr 29, 10 @ 3:51 pm
Quinn has to hold on to some reformer cred. How’s he going to be hurt? Dem legislators will sit on their hands and usher in Brady? They know Quinn doesn’t really have a role in the process.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Apr 29, 10 @ 4:07 pm
oops! NO go Sen. Raoul and all the folks hiding behind the curtain…Looks like a deal could be in the works…OK Bill, I would bet the ranch that you are though for that remark way early in this game/struggle for power…

Comment by Loop Lady Thursday, Apr 29, 10 @ 4:09 pm
Struggle for power???
Do you really think that there is any struggle at all when Madigan’s nemesis is the effete pat Quinn. This game is over before it starts.

Comment by Bill Thursday, Apr 29, 10 @ 4:39 pm
Loop ,

Quinn has nothing to bargin with he can’t help the house get the 3/5ths it needs to pass this. No real reason for Quinn to comment and annoy Raoul. Still think he flips and supports the Bill even though his support or lack there of means nothing.

Comment by Fed up Thursday, Apr 29, 10 @ 5:31 pm