Illinois House Democrats fall short in redistricting reform

Republicans were successful in holding off redistricting reform proposed by Democrats in the Illinois House by two votes today.

According to the Chicago Tribune, House Minority Leader Tom Cross, R-Oswego, told House Democrats their proposal failed to put the redistriting process into the hands of the people.

“The status quo isn’t working,” Cross said. “It is broken. It is time to break from the past. The wall has got to come down.”

An House committee voted 10-7 Tuesday to move a Democrat-backed redistricting plan to the House floor. The plan would allow lawmakers to be involved in the redrawing process by creating a 10-member commission of legislators and non-legislators.

Republicans, however, feel the process should be given to a panel appointed by lawmakers.

“We say no, we don’t believe this process is right and we’re going to stick to our guns that the legislature should not be part of this,” said Rep. Jim Durkin to the Chicago Public Radio.

Republicans and the League of Women Voters proposed their own plan, but it was defeated by the House panel by a 7-9 vote.

“I think the members of the General Assembly have a conflict of interest on this issue,” said League of Women Voters Executive Director Jan Czarnik to the Bloomington Pantagraph.

According to the Peoria Journal Star, the Illinois Fair Map Commission is currently trying to collect 280,000 signatures by May 3 to place the amendment on the November ballot.