Map madness has some state lawmakers in its grip

Posted on May 7, 2021
State Rep. Avery Bourne (R-Morrisonville) and other House Republicans found themselves in an office building next to the Capitol Thursday afternoon. (Dave Dahl/WJBC)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – The opposing political parties in Springfield offer opposing views of just how diabolical the every-ten-years process of redistricting really is.

Rep. Avery Bourne (R-Morrisonville) and other House Republicans found themselves in an office building next to the Capitol Thursday afternoon. “My colleagues and I are standing in front of a locked door,” Bourne said, “where politicians are literally walking in and selecting their voters.”

House Redistricting Committee chairwoman Rep. Lisa Hernandez’s (D-Cicero) response was untheatrical. “We are just following the process. They are doing the same,” said Hernandez. “They are also looking at maps. It’s nothing new It’s not a secret.”

Gov. JB Pritzker had favored an independent commission rather than partisan mapmaking. Whether it’s really a new day in Illinois will be for voters to decide.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]

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