The Illinois Remap is Official – Update 1x

Just saw this in my news feed:

Quinn Signs Legislative Redistricting Map Into Law

Gov. Pat Quinn set the foundation for state legislative elections during the next decade, signing a bill Friday that redraws the state’s legislative districts to keep the Republican minority out of power.

Democrats were in charge of the once-a-decade redistricting process, which is based on the latest census, because they control the Legislature and the governor’s office.

The maps put a third of GOP House members in hostile districts and grouped some sitting Senate lawmakers into the same district, including Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont). She was grouped with freshman Sen. Ron Sandack (R-Downers Grove).

House Republican leader Tom Cross said it’s a matter of time before the state redistricting fight ends up in court.

“It will be challenged on some constitutional grounds,” Cross said, as for example, not having enough Latino districts.

One key Latino advocacy group objected to the map before its passage.

“We are extremely, extremely disappointed,” said Elisa Alfonso, the Midwest redistricting coordinator for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, or MALDEF. . . (read full)

- UPDATE 1X -

The Congressional map is still waiting for signature according to Fox Chicago.

Gov. Quinn’s Veto? Dream on…

I’m sympathetic, but this is wishful thinking:

Illinois Republicans urge Gov. Quinn to veto congressional remap

By Lynn Sweet on June 3, 2011 8:00 AM

WASHINGTON–Illinois Republicans are asking Gov. Quinn on Friday to veto a heavily gerrymandered congressional remap designed to favor Democrats, arguing the new districts likely violate the federal Voting Rights Act.

The letter to Quinn–I’ve obtained a copy–is dated today–June 3–and is signed by eight Illinois Republicans–the leadership of “The Committee for a Fair and Balanced Map–including former House Speaker Denny Hastert and former Labor Secretary Lynn Martin, also a former Rockford House member. . . (read full)

SB3976 – Redistricting Reform for Minorities Sent to Governor

Illinois Issue’s blog offers detailed coverage on redistricting that passed through the general assembly today. If you cut through the rhetoric, here are the highlights on SB3976:

Illinois lawmakers approved changes today to the method they will use to draw legislative districts for future elections. . .

If signed by Gov. Quinn, the redistricting measure would add provisions to the process to protect minority voters. . .

The bill also requires four public redistricting hearings throughout the state. Republican opponents said hearings were not enough to give the public input. They said some hearings should be required after proposed maps are drawn, so voters can provide the legislature with specific feedback.

Chicago Democratic Sen. Kwame Raoul, the bill’s sponsor in the Senate, said there will likely be more than four redistricting hearings, and Currie agrees…“It’s not a ceiling. It’s a floor. It says we have to have at least four hearings in separate parts of the state, so the people of the state of Illinois, in separate parts of the state, can have a voice in this process.”

Currie said: “The four is the floor. We can have many more, and 10 years ago [when the current map was drawn], we did.” (read full)

Governor Quinn is likely to sign this one. Public hearings on the next political map will be a gracious act of transparency by Illinois standards.