West Cook News

Illinois Republicans are trying to change the process for redistricting as the state begins the required review process every 10 years, timed with the census. 

House and Senate Republicans, who are in the minority, have lodged complaints that the redrawing process isn't fair, and are advocating for an independent body to lead redoing the boundaries instead. 

The GOP followed up with a proposal filed on March 30 that calls for the Illinois Supreme Court to choose 16 state residents with evenly split political party affiliations to sit on the redistricting commission. 

Sen. Jil Tracy (R-Qunicy) said in a March 31 Facebook post that the People's Independent Maps Act would "take the politicians and insiders out of the map drawing process" and to reflect the state's racial, gender and ethnic demographics. 

"Every Illinoisan deserves to be represented in our democracy, and an independent map drawn by the people for the people NOT by the politicians for the politicians is the best way to make their voices heard," Tracy said. 

State Senator Don DeWitte posted an identical statement on his page. "For too long, the people of Illinois have been deprived of this right. That's why we have filed Senate Bill 1325, the People's Independent Maps Act."

The Act would further require a series of public hearings before the new maps would be approved. 

Republicans have said the independent board has the governor's backing and some bipartisan support

"Democrats want this. Republicans want this," Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield) said, WSILTV reported on March 30. "The only people who are holding this up are a handful of people who want to draw the maps in the backrooms so that people don't see it."

Rep. Lisa Hernandez (D-Cicero) said, WSILTV reported, that Republicans only want to "rig the process to elect more right-wing officials."

In an April 1 tweet, former Rep. Grant Wehrli (R-Naperville) said Hernandez is "as partisan as they get."

"Staunch defender of [former Rep. Mike] Madigan and has her own run-ins with corruption probes," Wehrli wrote. "Her claiming that [Republicans] are politicizing maps is laughable."