Week of December 21st, 2009
Last week, I mentioned a Citizen’s Initiative effort that was launched at the beginning of December by several non-partisan groups, including The League of Women Voters, the Better Government Association (BGA) and members of the Independent Illinois Reform Commission . The groups are going to attempt to get a Constitutional Amendment placed on the ballot next November that would change the way maps are drawn in Illinois for purposes of State Elections. The Illinois Constitution allows for proposed changes to the Constitution to be placed on the ballot by either action initiated by the General Assembly or through a petition process.
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. I could go on with many other examples. The current process even allows precincts to be split.
I have had countless people ask me how the map is drawn and who draws it. Well, simply put, the map is drawn by the Legislature at the present time. It must be approved by a majority vote of the Legislature and is subject to approval by the Governor. If there is not a successful majority vote by the Legislature on a particular map, and subsequent approval by the Governor, then an eight member commission (which is appointed by the four leaders having two appointments each) attempts to draw a map. If there is still no agreement by a majority of those eight, then the tie breaker is drawn out of a hat. Yes, the process is eventually decided, possibly, by drawing out of a hat. There are no requirements for transparency either. The map meetings are held in private behind closed doors. In essence, the current system allows for members of the General Assembly to decide who gets to vote for them instead of the other way around in secret meetings.
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 by giving up the power that the majority party has in these situations. Plus, all incumbents to some degree are protected by the current system and could possibly have a say in where the map lines are drawn in relation to where they live. So, instead of waiting for the unlikely event that the General Assembly will actually do something about this, the 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.
I am really pleased that these independent non-partisan groups have taken on this Citizen’s Initiative. These good government groups have a tough job ahead of them. They need to collect nearly five hundred thousand signatures from registered voters by the end of April in order to get the initiative on the ballot by next November. They also need to educate and convince the public to vote for the Amendment. There will certainly be those entrenched in power who will try to discredit these efforts. The General Assembly, especially those entrenched in the majority or in leadership positions will do their best to hold onto that power.
I fully support the concept of taking the mapping process out of the hands of politicians and putting the job into the hands of an independent commission. I intend to do all I can to help collect signatures and get the initiative on the ballot so that we can finally have a redistricting process that is transparent, fair and benefits the voters and not the politicians.
You can go to www.ILFairmap.com to 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! 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.
Finally, I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and I hope that you have a terrific New Year. May 2010, the first year of the second decade of the new century and millennium, be a happy, healthy and prosperous year for you and yours. After the start of the New Year, I will provide you all with an update about the three day January legislative session that runs January 12th, 13th and 14th.