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Western suburbs —
With a name like the Redistricting Transparency and Public Participation Act, how could reform-minded individuals throughout the state not be excited?
Because they know political window dressing when they see it. A bill passed this month by the Illinois Senate and now awaiting a vote in the House sounds much more impressive than it really is.
Part of Senate Bill 3976, the proposed legislation would require lawmakers in both chambers of the General Assembly to create committees for the upcoming redistricting process. Each committee would hold hearings in four parts of Illinois to solicit input on state and congressional districts. The bill would allow the House and Senate to create a single committee by passing a joint resolution.
So, what could be bad about opening up the redistricting process? Why would anyone not embrace the thought of bringing the discussion to the people?
Here’s why. Members of the public would still not have any say in the process once the new districts are drawn. In addition, there’s nothing compelling legislators to incorporate information from public testimony into the process.
Despite the more than 3 percent growth in Illinois’ population, the state stands to lose one congressional seat based on statistics from the 2010 census. Released last week, census figures show that the major growth in population across the country occurred in southern and western states. The 435 districts in the U.S. House of Representatives will be reapportioned to reflect this shift.
Political parties play too great a role in drawing and approving legislative districts. Both the Democrats and Republicans advocated constitutional amendments earlier this year that would have brought much greater change than what is in SB 3976, but neither initiative was allowed to come before to the voters. No surprise there.
There’s no getting around the fact that politics will influence how districts are drawn. But residents must have more of a say in how maps are drawn. It’s their interests that must be served, not those of political parties and incumbent legislators.
With a name like the Redistricting Transparency and Public Participation Act, how could reform-minded individuals throughout the state not be excited?
Because they know political window dressing when they see it. A bill passed this month by the Illinois Senate and now awaiting a vote in the House sounds much more impressive than it really is.
Part of Senate Bill 3976, the proposed legislation would require lawmakers in both chambers of the General Assembly to create committees for the upcoming redistricting process. Each committee would hold hearings in four parts of Illinois to solicit input on state and congressional districts. The bill would allow the House and Senate to create a single committee by passing a joint resolution.
So, what could be bad about opening up the redistricting process? Why would anyone not embrace the thought of bringing the discussion to the people?
Here’s why. Members of the public would still not have any say in the process once the new districts are drawn. In addition, there’s nothing compelling legislators to incorporate information from public testimony into the process.
Despite the more than 3 percent growth in Illinois’ population, the state stands to lose one congressional seat based on statistics from the 2010 census. Released last week, census figures show that the major growth in population across the country occurred in southern and western states. The 435 districts in the U.S. House of Representatives will be reapportioned to reflect this shift.
Political parties play too great a role in drawing and approving legislative districts. Both the Democrats and Republicans advocated constitutional amendments earlier this year that would have brought much greater change than what is in SB 3976, but neither initiative was allowed to come before to the voters. No surprise there.
There’s no getting around the fact that politics will influence how districts are drawn. But residents must have more of a say in how maps are drawn. It’s their interests that must be served, not those of political parties and incumbent legislators.
