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* Brad McMillan, the chairman of the Illinois Fair Map Coalition, has an op-ed today claiming something about the redistricting process that isn’t true…
In reality, the maps are drawn and the month of May 2011 should be devoted to real transparency in the redistricting process
The coalition has been claiming for a month or more that the maps are done. They’re not. There’s lots of activity going on right now. Boundaries are still changing.
As subscribers know, a large group of Democrats just got their first look at the proposed new map boundaries yesterday. Subscribers also know approximately when the maps will be released. But I can tell you that the maps are not yet finished. Members are still tweaking them.
* Meanwhile…
Aiming to ensure its voice isn’t drowned out by the Democratic-controlled state House, Senate and governor’s office, the party has filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the way the political lines for congressional and General Assembly districts are drawn.
The lawsuit, filed by Illinois GOP Chairman Pat Brady of St. Charles and the Illinois Republican Party in Springfield Wednesday, asks the Supreme Court to declare the tiebreaking provision of the politically prickly redistricting process in violation of the state’s constitution, and stop the General Assembly from completing the redistricting process until the court makes a decision.
“Drawing a statewide map by a method involving random chance deprives the plaintiffs a republican form of government,” the lawsuit reads. […]
“The map that Democrats produce will surely favor them and it’s not the result of a transparent process,” said [Brien Sheahan, general counsel for the Illinois GOP].
The lawsuit says nothing about the current process’ transparency. It’s about the tie-breaker provision. Actually, it’s about convincing the Illinois Supreme Court to delay the remap process until after the end of May, which would mean that the map would require a three-fifths majority (read: Republican votes).
* Our quote of the day is from Gov. Pat Quinn…
One of the governor’s other priorities is approval of a new, fair, legislative map. Lawmakers have presided over hearings in both chambers for the past few weeks to take testimony about what the new maps, which are redrawn every ten years, should look like.
“We want to make sure we don’t have lines drawn that look like they were drawn by somebody who’s majoring in Egyptian hieroglyphics,” said Quinn, addressing a gathering at Western Illinois University. “That’s happened, I guess, elsewhere. But we don’t want that to happen in Illinois.”
Dude, it hasn’t happened here? Really? Have you not seen the 17th Congressional District?
* Related…
* Tribune editorial: Let’s see the map: Here’s the thing about that May deadline: It’s baloney. The constitution gives the General Assembly until June 30 to pass a map before a bipartisan commission takes over. Once the regular legislative session ends, though, it takes a supermajority to pass a bill. The Democrats don’t have that many votes. That’s what the May 31 deadline is about. Revealing and voting on the map at the last minute will show that keeping Republicans out of the drawing room is far more important to Democrats than letting the public in.
* Press release: Broad Coalition submits “fair and inclusive” legislative map to Illinois House
* Jacob Meister: We Cannot Be Content
* Charlie Cook: Waiting Game
* Redistricting rows - Not so easy - Republican hopes of snagging extra seats following last year’s census look doomed to disappointment
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, May 13, 11 @ 11:09 am
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““We want to make sure we don’t have lines drawn that look like they were drawn by somebody who’s majoring in Egyptian hieroglyphics,” said Quinn, addressing a gathering at Western Illinois University. “That’s happened, I guess, elsewhere. But we don’t want that to happen in Illinois.””
It is simply inconceivable that even the Mighty Quinn can be this clueless. I am filing this one in the bold-faced public lie category, along with his veto for income tax increases above the 1 percent he campaigned on.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, May 13, 11 @ 11:16 am
Why do I think the Tribune wouldn’t have a problem with the map if the GOP was drawing it?
As for the GOP suit, when did the Illinois constitution’s provision for ending an impasse first become a problem for the GOP? The answer is: only when the GOP found itself on the outside looking in.
Elections have consequences. The GOP can’t seem to win enough elections to matter. And now they’re crying about it. There’s no crying in politics.
Comment by 47th Ward Friday, May 13, 11 @ 11:20 am
I consider the ILGOP lawsuit as frivolous. But boy, would I like to see this process taken out of the hands of the Governor and the GA and into the hands of a bi-partisan commission with equal representation, and a strong computer.
Comment by Cincinnatus Friday, May 13, 11 @ 11:26 am
I think the 17th would be a better example.
Ya know, if the Republican’s would have put more effort into the Fair Map Amendment, this might not be an issue, but instead they cried and moaned and didn’t put their people on the ground getting signatures.
Comment by Ahoy Friday, May 13, 11 @ 11:28 am
Rich, the 18th is the example of funking map draftsmanship? Could you have meant the 17th instead? Now THATS a work of, ahem, art.
Comment by matt jones Friday, May 13, 11 @ 11:29 am
Nobody’s been claiming a map has been done for a month.
Comment by 22 Friday, May 13, 11 @ 11:30 am
The process here is a joke for the maps to be secret until the last minute before the vote reminds me of Nancy pelosi stating we have to pass the bill so you can see what’s in the bill.
With cook co losing population it will be interesting to see the way madigan protects all his political allies in the city
Comment by Fed up Friday, May 13, 11 @ 11:31 am
I heard through the grapevine there are two maps. One nobody really cares about that will be released before the deadline, and another that is the real working document.
Comment by Cincinnatus Friday, May 13, 11 @ 11:32 am
Here are links to all of the complaints by the Illinois GOP and the Chicago Tribune about the remap process when Republicans were drawing the map:
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Friday, May 13, 11 @ 11:42 am
Well it’s certainly true that no one is or is going to take McMillan’s opinion of the remap seriously.
Comment by Dirt Digger Friday, May 13, 11 @ 11:57 am
McMillan make the claim all the time
It is interesting to note that he told a legislative hearing over a month ago that he would be drawning downstate districts within 2 weeks…A month has passed…when will McMillan be open with his plan
BTW there is no record tha McMillan objected to the 2000 map …while his check was coming from the U.S. House
Comment by CircularFiringSquad Friday, May 13, 11 @ 12:05 pm
CINCY
You live in a fantasy world. There is no such thing as a “Bi-Partisan Commission”. Whoever was to serve on such a commission who have been selected because of who they know or their pre-conditioned frame of mind. Everyone has their own opinions and they would definitely surface during the process of drawing a map.
The voters have spoken! They elected a Dem. Gov. and a Dem. House and Senate. Thus they will draw the map.
Comment by MOON Friday, May 13, 11 @ 12:31 pm
Pretty shameless of state gop chair Pat Brady isn’t it? Isn’t this the same Pat Brady that doesn’t let his own Republican voters vote in internal party elections for the top state GOP leaders, even though the Democrats do?
Comment by just sayin' Friday, May 13, 11 @ 12:35 pm
Two mistakes, one above (which is fixed) and the other here (which is now deleted). 17th, not 18th. Sorry.
Also, ICPR is not part of the Fair Map coalition. And the ICPR person said the map process had begun, not that it was finished.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, May 13, 11 @ 12:42 pm
Any chance you can you post the GOP complaint?
Comment by SockPuppet Friday, May 13, 11 @ 12:49 pm
SockPuppet, it’s posted for subscribers.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, May 13, 11 @ 12:51 pm
and Quinn was in the 17th dist. when he said that! doh!
but, for the record, I support districts that ensure fair representation for minorities, which sometimes results in less-than-compact districts.
Comment by winco Friday, May 13, 11 @ 3:29 pm
Does Rick Miller really believe that it is not in the best interests of the citizens of Illinois to be able to have substantive public hearings after the congressional and state legislative maps are unveiled from the back rooms. If you are really interested in the “truth” look up all of the eloquent statements made by Senator Raoul and others from both parties last spring about the need for real transparency in the redistricting process.
Comment by Brad McMillan Saturday, May 14, 11 @ 8:05 am
===Does Rick Miller really believe that it is not in the best interests of the citizens of Illinois to be able to have substantive public hearings after the congressional and state legislative maps are unveiled from the back rooms.===
First of all, it’s Rich, not Rick.
Secondly, I am very interested in transparency. I’m also interested in the truth. You apparently are not.
Comment by Rich Miller Saturday, May 14, 11 @ 6:42 pm