Prairie State Wire

Many are questioning how much Gov. Pritzker's promises are worth after his about-face on a campaign promise to veto any redistricting map drawn by politicians this year. 

Given the gerrymandering that Illinois has struggled with for decades, lawmakers and policy experts from both sides of the aisle have spoken to the importance of an independent bipartisan mapping commission rather than the legislature majority deciding how the district borders fall. 

On Chicago's Morning Answer, Wirepoint's Ted Dabrowski shared his disappointment in how Pritzker has gone back on his word. When asked if he believed that Pritzker might still deliver on his promise, Dabrowski said there was no way. 

"He made that promise a while back but I think he's missing in action on that," Dabrowski said. "I wouldn't expect any change there."

Democrats are now expected to use American Community Survey data to get final maps on Pritzker's desk by June 30. 

The lack of public participation in the redistricting process is noticeable despite multiple hearings that have been held, according to state Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris). In an early April Will County Gazette article, Rezin noted that, while participating in the multiple hearings held every week, she's picked up on a few important trends from the witnesses.

"[...]There's been a couple of important scenes that have been repeated by witnesses from across the state and across the political spectrum," Rezin said. "The first is transparency. Witness after witness has been critical of the lack of transparency in this process. That includes requests for more robust public engagement, more notice of hearings and for answers on how the public can draw their maps and what data we should be using."