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* WTTW…
In 2016, [House Speaker Chris Welch] also favored an independent commission.
In an op-ed, he wrote that he backed a constitutional amendment (HJRCA0058) that would disqualify current and recently elected officials from drawing a map; instead, an eight-member appointed panel would be tasked with the job.
“This proposal is a win-win for Illinois,” Welch wrote, saying that the commission would be required to draw districts that “reflect the ethnic, gender, and racial demographics of Illinois.”
A commission would also “make the redistricting process more transparent and take the process out of the hands of elected officials,” he wrote at the time.
We asked Welch what’s changed since then.
“Everything I pushed for then … I’m pushing for now. Like protecting minority representation and ensuring one person one vote. That’s exactly what I’m fighting for now. We are doing this through a very thoughtful, transparent and community driven process,” he said. “The principles that I stood for in 2016 are the same principles I stand for now.”
* From his op-ed…
The commission will be made up of eight members appointed by the Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court and the most senior justice from the opposing political party. Current and recently elected officials are disqualified from serving on the panel, as are lobbyists, business owners who contract with the state and state employees. This proposal is a win-win for Illinois.
The proposed constitutional amendment is here.
Suffice it to say that Speaker Welch is most definitely not currently pushing for an independent map-making commission appointed by Supreme Court justices.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Apr 27, 21 @ 10:29 am
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He’s “growing” in office
Comment by Fav Human Tuesday, Apr 27, 21 @ 10:36 am
“I was for it before I was against it.” I think we have heard that before somewhere. S/
Comment by Bruce( no not him) Tuesday, Apr 27, 21 @ 10:43 am
Should be more partisan and less independent if you ask me
Comment by SWIL_Voter Tuesday, Apr 27, 21 @ 10:44 am
We will when Texas does. And Georgia. Etc. Etc.
Comment by PublicServant Tuesday, Apr 27, 21 @ 10:57 am
Heavy wears the crown, as the saying goes.
Pleas for IL Dems to unilaterally disarm while the GOP isn’t asked or expected to do the same should fall on deaf ears.
Comment by The Doc Tuesday, Apr 27, 21 @ 11:02 am
===We will when Texas does===
That’s not what he said before he was Speaker. Just because he’s flip-flopping toward your view doesn’t make it right.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Apr 27, 21 @ 11:08 am
The January 6 coup attempt has made many of us reexamine the delicate balance between our idealism and self-defense.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Tuesday, Apr 27, 21 @ 11:09 am
It is always easier to give away someone else’s authority than to give away your own. It really is a shame that Speaker Welch isn’t keeping his past position on the issue. Same can be said about the Governor. Bottom line is this: another partisan map will be drawn, to the detriment of the people of Illinois.
Comment by The Fellow Edgar Tuesday, Apr 27, 21 @ 11:44 am
==Suffice it to say that Speaker Welch is most definitely not currently pushing for an independent map-making commission appointed by Supreme Court justices. ==
He couldn’t be pushing for this now because it would be unconstitutional. The General Assembly can not, at this point, delegate this authority to the justices of the Supreme Court. Only a constitutional amendment could provide the court with legislative authority to draw a map.
Comment by understanding the law Tuesday, Apr 27, 21 @ 11:51 am
Leave process as it is. Winners draw maps always have. It is a political process. Anyone who thinks some appointed commission will not be political in some ways is delusional
If they are that removed from politics they would not know what they are doing. I would rather have some u of I freshman computer geek do it than a “non political “ commission
Comment by DuPage Saint Tuesday, Apr 27, 21 @ 11:54 am
Owning the gavel gives you a different perspective on life.
Comment by Wow Tuesday, Apr 27, 21 @ 12:01 pm
January 6 does not justify politicians making a citizen’s vote as meaningless as they possibly can.
Comment by lake county democrat Tuesday, Apr 27, 21 @ 12:04 pm
== Owning the gavel gives you a different perspective on life.==
Same is true for watching a minority party attempt to overthrow the government and then seeing them use their state power to try to enshrine permanent minority rule. Wish it weren’t the case, but it is, and both Pritzker and Welch have eyes and ears. They’re seeing the same thing we are. If hypocrisy ever mattered we’d have no representatives anywhere at any level
Comment by SWIL_Voter Tuesday, Apr 27, 21 @ 12:04 pm
== January 6 does not justify politicians making a citizen’s vote as meaningless as they possibly can.==
That’s what January 6th was though. It was supported by the GOP and now they’re using their power, where they have it, to ensure they succeed next time. Whatever map they draw, it will be largely representative of the will of the people of this state. Cant say the same for the likes of North Carolina and Wisconsin where Democrats routinely vote in larger numbers but find themselves in basically permanent minority
Comment by SWIL_Voter Tuesday, Apr 27, 21 @ 12:07 pm
I’m not in elected office, but I am unabashedly a complete hypocrite on the issue of Fair Maps in IL. The Republicans are likely to retake the House in 2022 even if a slim majority of Americans vote for Democrats and the gap in power of one Californian’s vote vs a Idahoan’s allows the minority party that receives many fewer votes to maintain majority control of the Senate. Add in the fact that 4 of the 6 Republican Supreme Court Justices were appointed by Presidents that received fewer votes than their opponents, I have no problem hoping the Dems here create as partisan a map as possible.
Comment by Chicago Blue Tuesday, Apr 27, 21 @ 12:13 pm
MrJM, I would add a SCOTUS ruling that basically gave the GQP carte blanche with respect to partisan gerrymandering.
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Apr 27, 21 @ 12:40 pm
=I’m not in elected office, but I am unabashedly a complete hypocrite on the issue of Fair Maps in IL.=
I have to admit that I feel the same way.
I knew that the last election was going to result in a swing to the left nationally and same with the Pritzker election. I am not politically in line with some of it and think some goes to far left, but the alternative was much worse and so I accept it and hope that the future gets back to some more centrist results.
Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Apr 27, 21 @ 12:40 pm
Glad to hear many of you drop the pious pretext that somehow, gerrymandering is bad, but Illinois doesn’t gerrymander to help Democrats, only to help minorities vote, or some such nonsense.
“Unilateral disarmament.” Ha. Needed a laugh today.
Comment by JB13 Tuesday, Apr 27, 21 @ 1:03 pm
If you support gerrymandering here, you undermine HR1 and the efforts to get rid of gerrymandering everywhere - don’t kid yourself that you’re merely “against unilateral disarmament.” I wonder how many of you would be against DC statehood or other measures to get those people federal voting rights if those voters were overwhelmingly Republican.
Comment by lake county democrat Tuesday, Apr 27, 21 @ 1:33 pm
Not so genuine then. Or now. Or ever.
Comment by A Guy Tuesday, Apr 27, 21 @ 1:35 pm
=== Not so genuine then. Or now. Or ever.===
You supported Trump. This is your take and concern?
Are you trolling yourself?
To the post,
When it became apparent during the Trump years and Illinois Dems steamrolled over Raunerites up and down the ballot, the only game was to complain about the map, a map that will begin with super-majority Dems in both chambers.
The key is… the only worry is… the Voters Rights Act.
Any map that fulfills those parameters that Trunpkins here in Illinois want to complain about… is them complaining… there’s not enough voter suppression.
That’s it. That’s the framing, that’s the map anyone can defend.
“Republicans are against this map as they are against the Voters Rights Act and want suppressing of voters”
The Speaker needs only to pass a map that fits that bill, then whatever he said before or since has a touchstone to honesty of purpose.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 27, 21 @ 1:45 pm
Dems would almost certainly continue to control the General Assembly even under an independent map, but they likely wouldn’t have supermajorities in both chambers like they do now and that’s the problem for Welch and Harmon. Every rank and file Democrat in office currently expects to be protected in next map
Comment by Etown Tuesday, Apr 27, 21 @ 3:27 pm
== but they likely wouldn’t have supermajorities in both chambers like they do now==
Show your work
Comment by SWIL_Voter Tuesday, Apr 27, 21 @ 3:36 pm
I’m finding it fairly easy to disregard what Welch says. But his members are probably happy with him.
New Jersey has a commission and its congressional delegation is 10-2 favoring Dems.
There’s little reason to think that Dems would lose seats with a commission. But some current Democratic legislators would be replaced by others, and that is why the current crop is opposed to it, and why Welch and Harmon and Pritzker are doing their bidding.
Comment by Anonanonsir Tuesday, Apr 27, 21 @ 4:40 pm
SWIL
Not sure what you mean by show your work but I do know that Dems hold almost 65% of seats in legislature and part of that might be to do with a map drawn by Dems 10 years ago. To victors go the spoils so good for them they drew maps that guaranteed majorities but no doubt in my mind that Repubs would gain seats if Independent Maps are drawn
Comment by Etown Tuesday, Apr 27, 21 @ 4:52 pm
=== no doubt in my mind that Repubs would gain seats if Independent Maps are drawn===
Ask Lee Daniels about your doubts… the SGOP kept the chamber for 10 years, Lee couldn’t keep it past one GA.
No doubt about that either.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 27, 21 @ 5:04 pm
This is what is so pathetically amusing….
=== no doubt in my mind that Repubs would gain seats if Independent Maps are drawn===
See, it’s not that the likes of Ives or Oberweis, or that Rauner got rid of pro-labor Republicans or a lack of diversity… it’s never that.
“It’s the map”
I mean, sincerely… this is embarrassing. As embarrassing as 51 seats being given a pass by the Raunerites, no candidates, or the losses in the suburbs but “winning 80+ counties” kind of illogical premises to strength.
But… it’s the map.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 27, 21 @ 5:12 pm