Illinois GOP count on Democrats to proceed partisan course of with Congressional redistricting

Statehouse Democrats are able to take public enter on redrawing the state’s congressional districts, however Republicans don’t count on such enter to be thought of.

Lawmakers may take up congressional maps once they return to the capital for the autumn veto session in a number of weeks. In a information launch, Democrats mentioned they’ll quickly announce public listening to dates for October and so they’re taking public enter on the web sites ILSenateRedistricting.com and ILHouseDems.com/redistricting .

State Sen. Omar Aquino, D-Chicago, inspired residents to take part straight.

“Now’s the time for residents throughout Illinois to make their voices heard to make sure our state has robust illustration in Washington,” Aquino mentioned. “We encourage residents to benefit from these alternatives to straight take part within the map-making course of, as one of the best map is one which displays the varied voices throughout our state.”

State Sen. Jason Barickman, R-Bloomington, mentioned Democrats could say they need enter, however he mentioned they’ve already proven their playing cards with how they dealt with public enter in the course of the legislative redistricting.

“I feel the playbook is already there, the Democrats plan to scrub it off and use it once more,” Barickman mentioned. “The general public ought to carry on for one more kangaroo-style courtroom of public transparency that’s designed to examine a field to say they need your enter when everybody is aware of that they only don’t.”

A number of civil teams criticized Democrats for not taking their enter in the course of the legislative redistricting course of, maps which are embroiled in a federal lawsuit.

Illinois is ready to lose a congressional seat due to continued inhabitants loss and Barickman absolutely expects Democrats to regulate the method to cut back Republican illustration.

“Once you politicize the mapmaking course of in the best way that Democrats have, in the end what you’re doing is you’re eradicating the alternatives that voters have and consequently, you’re having much less accountable illustration in a authorities that’s supposed to carry individuals accountable,” Barickman mentioned.

Democrats criticized Republicans for not submitting their very own legislative maps. Barickman didn’t count on Republicans to submit congressional maps, saying that will go towards their precept of not having politicians draw legislative maps. The GOP has been pushing for a nonpartisan fee to take over the method, one thing that some Democrats supported however haven’t acted on.

Democrats mentioned they’ll quickly announce public hearings for October, heading into the autumn veto session which begins Oct. 19.