Prairie State Wire

Newly installed Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy thinks there needs to be a change to the way Springfield does business.

In his weekly memo, Tracy weighed in on the burning issue of map redistricting, and what he sees as the twisted practice of lawmakers being allowed to choose their own voters instead of the other way around.

“We must end the absurd practice of partisan politicians drawing their own legislative districts,” Tracy wrote. “Just like other states, Illinois should have our new map drawn by an independent and non-partisan commission that represents the diversity of Illinois.”

Tracy argued the time for change in now, especially given both Gov. J.B. Pritzker and House Speaker Chris Welch have publicly vowed to support independent map making by an independent commission.

“These Democrat leaders have had the chance in the past to follow through on their promises and still have the ability to do the right thing,” Tracy added. “Legislative leaders should immediately support the independent commission bill proposed recently by Republican Leaders Jim Durkin and Dan McConchie. The language is identical to Democrat-sponsored legislation that dozens of Democrats supported just last year.”

Senate Bill 1325, also known as the Independent Maps Act, seeks to take lawmakers completely out of the business of map drawing. Instead, the measure would give the state Supreme Court the power to appoint a 16-member independent commission to head the redistricting process.

Presently, the bill is being co-sponsored in the Senate by at least 16 other Republican legislators.