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Cullerton has simple solution for remap reform

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Illinois

* Simple, indeed, but is it a good one? Not so sure…

Cullerton said he agrees with Rauner that there should be some sort of redistricting reform, saying “let it be two bipartisan folks that the Supreme Court chooses. Have those two people decide what the maps would be.”

And if they can’t decide? What then? Pistols at 40 paces?

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 1:56 pm

Comments

how about we choose one nonpartisan computer and let it draw the districts according to population density. make the code open source so everyone can inspect it and see that the results are fair.

Comment by Homer J. Quinn Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 1:59 pm
Well, it IS simple.

Comment by Deft Wing Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 1:59 pm
Is this a preview for redistricting reform being added to the alleged Grand Bargain?

Comment by Telly Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 1:59 pm
Pistols is too old school. Now we can have violence without death. How about a two out of three on the latest video game?

Comment by Norseman Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 1:59 pm
You can’t have reforms in the last days of your term, Gov.

Comment by Red Rider Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 2:01 pm
I think that rather on focusing on “who” reform needs to focus on “how”.

My favorite idea is something along the lines of “no more than # corners with a maximum/minimum angle of X” with allowances made for natural/existing borders (county lines, rivers, etc).

Right now it’s a battle for who gets to benefit from the map rather than a battle of how to make the map more resistant to shenanigans.

Comment by Notacop Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 2:02 pm
Bottom line is “partisan” maps are going the way of the dodo. Once the supreme court gets Wisconsin’s gerrymandering case, it’ll definitely be interesting to see what the results are and the implications.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 2:03 pm
DUEL

Comment by John Rawlss Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 2:03 pm
How about we put redistricting in the hands of an independent commission. The law would become effective when all the states we’re competing with in the Midwest- Wisconsin, Indiana, Missouri, etc. pass the same legislation.
Can’t be out of step with our neighbors, can we Governor?

Comment by Truthteller Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 2:05 pm
Here we have another example of the basic problem in Illinois politics these days. At every turn, the Democrats offer a reasonable compromise, and then Rauner rejects it. He is not a mature politician. He is a demagogue and almost a revolutionary, an ideologue. He seems actually to hate people who disagree with him. This poisons our politics and destroys our state government.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 2:06 pm
I prefer “juju” like in the Tarzan movies…

Comment by Johnny Weismueller Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 2:13 pm
This remap thing seems sorta golden. Just sell the rights to draw the remap to the highest bidder.

Comment by Robert the Bruce Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 2:18 pm
Rauner has been silent for a while now on redistricting. I suspect he thinks he’ll be able to draw the map under the current system after the next two elections.

It should be noted that very soon former Pres. Obama is going to make gerrymander reform his post-presidency project. Obama could be influential in Illinois Democratic politics if he chooses to be, whether in fundraising or campaigning. Or not.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 2:18 pm
===“partisan” maps are going the way of the dodo===

One judge employing a very novel (to say the least) argument does not a trend make. Plus, there’s even a disagreement over whether Illinois would fall into the same category. It depends how you count, which is why I haven’t posted on this yet. The people who prevailed in Wisconsin say Illinois rules are fine by their metrics. Others disagree.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 2:18 pm
“And if they can’t decide? What then? Pistols at 40 paces?”

Two words: Steel Cage.

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 2:19 pm
And what about independents? We need to move beyond just bipartisanship when it comes to elections.

The person who mentioned computer generated modeling is spot on.

Comment by Ahoy! Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 2:21 pm
any solution is better than the current situation.

Comment by Saluki Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 2:32 pm
“And if they can’t decide? What then? Pistols at 40 paces?” Or a game of H-O-R-S-E.

Comment by Skeptic Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 2:35 pm
Worst case, if they can’t decide, somebody sues and a federal judge draws the map.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 2:39 pm
I always go with Mark Twain’s advice: axes, but most folks seem to prefer brickbats at 3/4 of a mile.

https://futureboy.us/twain/tramp/tramp08.html

And there is no such thing as an independent commission or an impartial computer program.

Comment by Juvenal Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 2:39 pm
As Tina Turner said in Mad Max “It is the law of Thunderdome two men enter one man leave!”

Comment by DuPage Bard Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 2:49 pm
TBH, Cullerton’s plan is at least more honest than some of the phoney Ohio-style reforms.

Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 3:05 pm
I am fully aware of how complex and politically charged this issue has become. I will not and can not offer a solution that will please everyone.

If anyone is genuinely interested search the Brennan Centers reporting and research on Redistricting. I get periodic emails from them on a variety of topics and received on today redistricting. Check it out.

Brennan Center for Justice

Comment by illini Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 3:06 pm
Sorry - didn’t copy all. Go to

brennancenter@nyu.edu

Comment by illini Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 3:10 pm
Put both chambers into 3 member districts with cumulative voting. Go 20 Senate districts each containing 2 House districts. This gives 60 Senators and 120 Representatives.

Have open primaries with top 5 vote getters moving on to the general.

Have the Supreme Court appoint a Special Master to reviewthe plans. Master can adjust partisan maps if the master can reduce the length of district boundaries while keeping populations within 3 percent of State average.

Cumulative voting protects minority voting rights. Compactness ends gerrymandering.

If Legislators won’t act, do most of this through Initiative but cut to 15 Senate districts and 30 House districts. This gives a hammer to the process. (Rich has suggested a hammer was needed. This could be it.)

Comment by Last Bull Moose Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 3:11 pm
Pistols at 40 paces

I seem to remember in NM when they thought they had a tie for President, that the state law was play a hand of Poker to resolve it.

Not sure if it was 5 card draw or not….

Comment by Fav Hum Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 3:12 pm
First thing our legislature should do is call on federal Congress to develop a Constitutional Amendment, so that whatever is done applies to ALL states. Why should a deep blue state start playing fair until a deep red state (with equal or nearly equal number of electoral votes) does the same! That should be an easy resolution to vote “aye” in both parties, and perhaps put pressure on other states to do the same?!

Comment by Ivote Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 3:32 pm
Needs to be an odd number of people. One Republican, one Democrat, and one computationally literate Independent to run the software and optimize some objective measure of compactness. One suggested measure is to minimize the travel time between all pairs of people in a district. Sounds cumbersome, but computers can do it.

Comment by jake Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 3:39 pm
How about 118 and 59 at large then you don’t need no stinkin’ map

Comment by Annonin' Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 3:40 pm
40 Paces? Rich, do you want these people to hit each other or not? Or does that depend on who is actually doing the shooting?

Comment by Mr. Smith Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 3:51 pm
A better idea is to tie IL’s redistricting reform proposal to the passage of reform in another Midwestern state, such as Michigan. Although not exactly equal delegate-wise, it would help address another gerrymandered state that advantages the other party. Truthfully, IL Dems would not lose much with redistricting reform given the state’s demographics and political history. If Rauner wants reform, then he only needs to convince his GOP colleagues to join him. Or we can all wait for the WI case to play out.

Comment by Veil of Ignorance Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 4:10 pm
==Have those two people decide what the maps would be==

You know, Instead of one.

Comment by A guy Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 4:29 pm
illini — thanks for Brennan Center tip, good stuff

Comment by Flapdoodle Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 6:22 pm
How about requiring all districts have 4 straight sides (with the exception of the natural state boundaries…

Comment by Liberty Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 10:47 pm
No, Rich, it’s 20 to 30 paces with pistols. I’m bidding on concession rights; you and Blue Room can do the live stream. We promote this well, and we’ll be rich!

Any particular reason you’re throwing us this much red meat this early in the week?

Comment by Lynn S. Monday, Apr 3, 17 @ 11:12 pm