Deputy Minority Leader Ryan Spain, Representative Dan Ugaste, and Representative Amy Elik on Tuesday blasted a proposed constitutional amendment from Illinois Democrats, arguing it would further weaken standards for fair legislative maps and make partisan gerrymandering even easier.
“In furtherance of their endless appetite for absolute power, Speaker Chris Welch and Illinois Democrats aim to enshrine what they once claimed was defect into future design,” said State Representative Ryan Spain. Spain was criticizing a constitutional amendment filed by Democrats that would change the long-standing fairness standard in the Illinois Constitution used to judge legislative maps.
“Democrats are working to standardize what was once described as anomaly, and, in doing so, aim to make permanent in our State Constitution not best practice, but rather the worst practice in the country,” continued Representative Dan Ugaste, referring to Illinois’ “F” grade for gerrymandered maps by the Princeton Gerrymandering Project.
“Closed door deals. Partisan district lines. Communities split apart for political gain. Politicians hand picking their voters. And now, an attempt to change our State Constitution to make it even easier,” said Rep. Amy Elik. “The leadership at the top of the Democratic machine has proven time and again, they will protect themselves first and the people of Illinois last.”
House Republicans say the amendment, House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 28, was filed just this week by Speaker Chris Welch in response to concerns over a case currently before the U.S. Supreme Court, Louisiana v. Callais. The proposal would rewrite Illinois’ constitutional standard for drawing legislative maps.
Under the current standard, maps must be “compact, contiguous and substantially equal in population.” Welch’s proposal would instead create a ranked list of five criteria.
The Amendment to amend the Legislature Article of the Illinois Constitution on decennial redistricting to require Legislative and Representative Districts to be drawn, in order of priority: (1) to be substantially equal in population; (2) to ensure that no citizen is denied an equal opportunity to participate in the political process and to elect representatives of his or her choice on account of race; (3) to create, where practical, racial coalition or influence Districts; (4) to be contiguous; and (5) to the extent practicable, to be compact. The current requirements are compact, contiguous, and substantially equal in population.
Compactness is moved to the bottom of the list and qualified by the phrase “to the extent practicable.” House Republicans argue that change would significantly weaken the compactness requirement. They point to a lawsuit filed last year, Schrage v. State Board of Elections, which alleges maps passed by Democrats violate Illinois’ compactness standard in 52 of the state’s 118 House districts.
“Instead of accountability, we’ve gotten excuses. Illinoisans can see the results for themselves. Districts that twist and turn, communities divided, and a system that was set up to protect politicians, not represent people,” Elik continued.
House Republicans say they are concerned the amendment could move in the Illinois House this week. They are urging residents to contact their state representative and state senator and ask them to vote NO. Residents are also strongly encouraged to sign the petition at RedoRemap.com to voice their opposition to HJRCA 28.
