Sen. Sue Rezin | Facebook
Sen. Sue Rezin | Facebook
The new legislative maps pushed through the General Assembly by Democratic lawmakers and signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker are raising protests from Republicans.
Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) said many leading government reform and minority advocacy groups pleaded with Democrats to reconsider the new district maps that are planned along partisan lines.
“Over 50 individuals and groups, amongst them the leading government reform and minority advocacy groups in Illinois pled their strong desire for Democrats to not rely upon the inexact population estimates they’ve chosen," Rezin told the Kendall County Times.
Democrats faced many objections not only from government and minority groups, but also from the community advocacy organizations and government reform groups that wanted a commission panel created to design the new district maps.
“Ironically, these are the same groups with whom many members of the majority supported when sponsoring the independent commission process for redistricting just two years ago. But when it mattered most, those groups were abandoned, along with the 75% of people in this state who have begged for an independent map-drawing process," Rezin said.
Rezin said the redistricting was just another power grab by Democratic lawmakers.
“What we witnessed with the passage of these maps is a desperate attempt by those in power to hold on to that power at all costs, even if it meant broken promises and the cost of their constituents’ trust. The people of Illinois deserve better than this. They deserve the chance to pick their politicians instead of once again, letting politicians pick their voters. We must continue to fight for a fair and independent map-making process,” Rezin told the Kendall County Times.
According to Illinois Newsroom, House GOP Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) said that Pritzker broke his promise to the people, even after telling the media the day prior to the signing that he was still "undecided" if he would approve the maps.
The new district maps will take effect in 2023.
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