Week of Janaury 25th, 2010
When we return to Springfield on February 3rd, legislation will be posted to committees for the start of the spring session. By then, hundreds of bills will have been filed for consideration. Don’t forget that you can follow what is going on during the session by going to www.ilga.gov and searching for legislation in order to read the text of bills that interest you. In addition, you can follow what is going on by clicking on the live audio and video buttons located on the website. I encourage you to visit the site and keep track of what is going on. More importantly, I hope that you will keep in contact with me regarding issues that are important to you.
The Primary Election will have concluded by the time we go back into session and the results of the Primary will certainly have some effect on the direction that the session takes. As most of you know, the Democratic race for Governor has tightened up in the past few weeks to the point that many are calling it a dead heat. If Governor Quinn cannot hold onto what was once considered an insurmountable lead and current Comptroller Dan Hynes wins that primary race, we will have a lame duck governor during the spring session. In that case, everyone will know that Illinois will have a new governor and that dynamic could change things this spring. Of course, even if Governor Quinn pulls the primary out, it is still quite possible that we could have a different person in charge of the Executive branch of state government. But, there is something about a lame duck governor that changes things dramatically.
One thing is for sure, the next week will be very interesting. I sincerely hope that everyone gets out and votes in the Primary. No matter the party or your favorite candidates, a Democratic form of government depends on people voting and being involved. Like everyone, I get tired of the numerous phone calls and recorded messages, the endless flyers in the mail and the negative campaigning. However, I hope that it does not sour folks on the fact that they need to get out and vote to make sure our government reflects the will of “the people.”
Data shows that voter turnout is especially low in primary races during years that there is not a Presidential race. I suppose that is to be expected. I hope this year is different though and we have a great voter turnout on February 2nd. In the midst of a war on terror and thinking back on the numerous times our men and women have fought to maintain our way of life, I just think we all owe it to each of them to participate in the blessings of freedom that these brave individuals have secured.
Illinois is facing a crossroads, actually, regarding which direction we will proceed in the future related to ethics and changing the way things are done with state government. The past decade has been tough as one governor has been imprisoned and one Impeached and under federal indictment. Both major parties have been shamed by the lack of ethics revealed during these very public demonstrations of the betrayal of voter trust. I think step one is that people demonstrate that they are very much still involved and aware even though things have happened that might otherwise cause voters to become frustrated. One way is to make sure you vote.
Another way to show that the people are in charge is to get involved in a Citizen’s Initiative like the one being led by the non-partisan League of Women’s Voters. I have written before about the FairMap Amendment. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that the current gerrymandering that takes place now leads to ridiculous lines and districts that are not compact and contiguous. A good example is the 109th Legislative District. My district encompasses all are parts of eight counties in East-Central Illinois: Clark, Crawford, Cumberland, Lawrence, all of Edgar except a couple of townships, half of Wabash, about half of Shelby and a portion of Effingham County. In Mt. Carmel, in Wabash County, I share the city with Representative David Reis. In fact, on one street in Mt. Carmel, I represent one side of the street and Representative Reis represents the other side of the street. In Shelbyville, I split the city with Representative Bob Flider, in Altamont the city is also split between me and Representative Ron Stephens. The current process even allows precincts to be split.
It has become apparent that left up to the General Assembly to change the way maps are drawn, it simply will not happen. No matter which party is in power, they will likely not be inclined to give up the power they possess to affect the outcome of elections. Plus, all incumbents to some degree are protected by the current system have a say in where the map lines are drawn in relation to where they live. Politicians pick who votes for them rather than the other way around. So, instead of waiting for the unlikely event that the General Assembly will actually do something about this, a major effort is being made to change the current system through the process of a petition drive.
This issue is actually not a partisan issue at all. It really is something that goes beyond party loyalties to public policy and good government for all. Under the “Illinois Fair Map Amendment” the independent commission would be guided by an established set of criteria to promote competition and protect minority voting rights. To truly begin real progress to change Illinois, we need to take politics out of the way legislative maps are drawn.
On Primary Election Day, a major effort is being mounted to get petitions signed at polling places throughout Illinois in order to support the inclusion of the FairMap Amendment on the ballot for the November General Election. Often people ask me, “What can I do to get involved and help straighten things out?” I would strongly recommend that you get involved in this Election Day effort to collect signatures for FairMap. You can go to www.ILFairmap.com to more read about the initiative. If you are willing to help, please let me know. We need an army of people who are ready to take their government back! You can write me at: P.O. Box 125, Hutsonville, IL 62433, call me at 618-563-4128 or 217-558-1040 or e-mail me at reddyunit1@aol.com. You can also read more on my web site: www.peopleforeddy.com or and follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/RepEddy and www.tweetillinois.org.