West Cook News

House Republican Floor Leader Jim Durkin (R-Burr Ridge) has a challenge for Democrats in the debate over fair redistricting maps.

“It’s time for the Democrat leaders to stand behind the promises they made, the promises they used to get elected to make sure that this process is truly fair,” Durkin said during a recent press conference on the issue.

Though Democratic state Rep. Lisa Hernandez recently declared, “House Democrats are dedicated to transparency and public participation in redistricting process,” many Republicans are taking the claim with a grain of salt, especially given Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s silence on the issue.

Meanwhile, Durkin hasn’t been shy about sharing his thoughts on the issue, recently telling a House Redistricting Committee audience “this process is extremely important, probably the most important decision we make for many years to come. If we do this proceses correctly, lay the foundation for congressional seats for the next decade, we all know how important that is on so many levels.”

Republican lawmakers are pushing the People’s Independent Maps Act as the answer. The measure seeks to take politicians completely out of the business of redistricting, instead granting the power to the state Supreme Court to appoint 16 independent citizens to a redistricting commission within 30 days of passage.

With the system now allowing the party in power to control the map redistricting process, Democrats stand to call all the shots by virtue of controlling the House, Senate and Governor’s Office.