Prairie State Wire

 State Rep. Avery Bourne (R-Lichtfield) is calling on Gov. J.B. Pritzker to put an end to the madness she sees brewing over the issue of map redistricting. 

“If the governor holds to his promise to veto any partisan map, he needs to come out and say that now so that the legislature knows this is a fool’s errand to keep going with redistricting in a partisan way,” Bourne said during a recent map redistricting press conference. “Redistricting has a huge impact on how Illinois will be represented for the next 10 years. The governor promised when he campaigned that he wanted it taken out of the hands of partisans and he made a pledge that he would veto any map that was drawn by partisans.”

Like a growing number of GOP lawmakers, Bourne argues the time for change is now. 

“We need a fair process that allows for fair representation for all Illinoisans,” she added. “Today, we have a real opportunity to set forth a new path for redistricting and provide a fair map. We can’t squander this opportunity at the expense of Illinois residents."

For a growing number of Republican lawmakers the answer lies in the passage of the People’s Independent Maps Act, which seeks to take politicians completely out of the process of map drawing. Instead, House Bill 1325 seeks to grant the state Supreme Court the power to appoint 16 independent citizens to a redistricting commission within 30 days of passage.

“I’m here to remind the governor of the promise he made to Illinois residents,” Bourne added. “We need a fair map and a fair process that allows for fair representation for all Illinoisans.”