State Rep. David Olsen (R-Downers Grove) expressed his disappointment after the Illinois Supreme Court's ruling last month upheld the decision that the Independent Map Amendment was unconstitutional.
Despite the voters' widespread support and the State Election Board's approval, the Independent Map Amendment faced a court challenge brought by the group People's Map and Mike Kaspar, general counsel for the Illinois Democratic Party. The Democrats are led by House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago), who has a vested interest in preventing redistricting. Madigan is in charge of the state's district maps.
A Cook County Circuit Court deemed the voter initiative unconstitutional and the state's highest court upheld the ruling. The 4-3 Supreme Court ruling fell along party lines, with the Democratic judges outvoting the Republican judges.
"I am deeply disappointed by today’s ruling," Olsen said. "The people of Illinois overwhelmingly support independent redistricting, but the decision came in favor of the corrupt Chicago Machine who fear that having an independent body draw district maps will erode their power. Politics shouldn’t be about maintaining power, it should be about making government work for the people. That’s why I am proud to support political reforms like term limits and fair maps, reforms that will get Springfield working for us again."
Olsen took office in August, after being appointed to fill state Rep. Ron Sandack's District 81 seat by the DuPage and Will County Republican Party chairs.
Proving that he is willing to put his money where his mouth is, Olsen's first action was to opt out of the legislative pension system. As an advocate of pension reform, he felt it necessary to set the example as he began his tenure in the House.
He was clear that current retirees' needs would not be disregarded in the reform process. Instead, he said that he is willing to work with his colleagues on both sides of the House to find a bipartisan solution to pension reform and other issues that face Illinois.
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