Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the General Assembly’s Illinois redistricting maps and claims they advocate for diversity, but the federal courts found them unconstitutional because the maps used old U.S. Census data.
“It’s just shameful how they’ve gone about it. You had numerous Democrats claim they thought redistricting should be done by an independent process,” said Senator Jason Barickman. “The governor who once proclaimed and promised voters to veto maps that were drawn by politicians.”
Barickman said it should be no shock to anyone, that there is a secret room.
“The notion of a smoke filled room, the Democratic leaders of the house and senate in there, the governor’s staff are in there, they’re all drawing maps designed to protect their democratic majority,” said Barickman. “All to fulfill a partisan purpose. The people who are left out of this is the public. The people want choices at the ballot box, they want representatives who are accountable to them. It’s disgraceful to watch it. This week we are going to vote on the congressional maps.”
There’s been two state legislature maps, the federal courts ruled that the first set of state maps were unconstitutional. They violated the equal protection clause of the U.S. constitution.
“Think of the fact that Pritzker said the maps are fair, they’re unconstitutional… they clearly are not fair. The courts are still reviewing the second maps,” said Barickman. “That’s a process that is ongoing. I think we’ll see the results of that probably in November. The stories are not over on that one yet.”
Democrats, released the revised maps Saturday. State legislators are scheduled to meet in Springfield on Tuesday and Wednesday (Oct. 26-27) to consider the maps.
