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Unclear on the concept

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Illinois

* Daily Herald editorial…

The Illinois Constitution allows the Democrat-controlled General Assembly to keep control only if it approves legislative maps by June 30. The job then goes to an eight-member bipartisan commission, but that commission has to get it done by Aug. 10. At that point, a ninth member’s name is pulled out of a hat, making him or her the tiebreaker and kingmaker.

That’s nuts. […]

Rather than spending time devising ways to keep control, Illinois Democrats should open up how remapping is handled. Naming a bipartisan commission to govern the process would tamp down the impact of the missed state deadlines through a good-faith effort to reach a consensus, no matter when the census numbers come in.

This might be unrealistically optimistic.

Yeah, I’m kinda thinking that ignoring the constitution with a “good faith” effort at an alternative bipartisan commission might just possibly be a wee bit on the unrealistically optimistic side.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Mar 25, 21 @ 11:23 am

Comments

Hmm, they want a bipartisan commission to govern the process which already involves a . . . bipartisan commission?

Comment by JoanP Thursday, Mar 25, 21 @ 11:26 am
I think there is only one party that thinks ignoring the constitution is a good idea.

Comment by Bruce( no not him) Thursday, Mar 25, 21 @ 11:27 am
Goo Goo’d will dream

Comment by Wow Thursday, Mar 25, 21 @ 11:28 am
First pensions now maps. Makes me wonder what other parts of the Constitution the right wants to ignore.

Comment by Gruntled University Employee Thursday, Mar 25, 21 @ 11:31 am
Why let the Constitution get in the way of minor things like redistricting and pensions.

Comment by West Side the Best Side Thursday, Mar 25, 21 @ 11:35 am
Unrealistically optimistic? My first thought was “quite bizarre”.

Comment by Leslie K Thursday, Mar 25, 21 @ 11:47 am
The Daily Herald message is a little jumbled. But they need not worry about the appointment of the “nuts” commission process under the constitution. My money is on the proposition that maps will be done on time.

As for coming to a bipartisan consensus, yes that is (to put in mildly) “unrealistically optimistic”.

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Mar 25, 21 @ 11:53 am
I think the Daily Herald’s biggest beef should be with two US Supreme Court justices they admire, Antonin Scalia and John Roberts, both of whom have led the court in ruling partisan gerrymandering is perfectly legal.

Comment by Roman Thursday, Mar 25, 21 @ 12:03 pm
Constitution isn’t just there when it’s convenient. It’s controlling. I know it stinks sometimes when the constitution doesn’t say what we want it to, but it just seems that so-called conservatives aren’t particularly conservative when it comes to their willingness to throw out the constitution on issues like this and the pension diminishment clause.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Thursday, Mar 25, 21 @ 12:11 pm
The coin flip isn’t all that nuts - the same basic mechanism exists in baseball arbitrations to encourage settling on a compromise.

Comment by lake county democrat Thursday, Mar 25, 21 @ 12:54 pm
=== This might be unrealistically optimistic.===

In editorial speak, this is “we are using dorm room thinking, but it sounds kool”

===…only if it approves legislative maps by June 30.===

The question I’d have is can it get a map that can get signed or be supported at such a number the pressure is off “everyone”

It’ll be a challenge to both Harmon and Welch, let alone the real trick… drawing it to muster that support on its work product.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 25, 21 @ 3:39 pm