Dupage Policy Journal

Republican House floor leader Jim Durkin (R-Burr Ridge) is demanding that Democrats honor their word when it comes to creating fair maps.

“Every year, we hear over and over again how much Democrats support fair maps,” Durkin said at a recent Republican news conference on redistricting. “In 2016, then Rep. Welch co-sponsored an effort to create an independent commission that had 105 members of the House voting in favor. What is interesting is that there are currently 31 members who supported that constitutional amendment just a few years ago.”

Durkin also said a growing number of new Democratic lawmakers have indicated they would support an independent map commission.

“Now it’s game time for redistricting, but those Democrats are stunningly silent of how we should go about redistricting,” he said. “Gov. [J.B.] Pritzker has been very quiet on this issue. Let’s remind him where he’s been over the last few years.”

While Durkin and other Republicans are pressuring Democrats, GOP legislators are pushing for their bill known as the People’s Independent Maps Act that would create an independent commission.

With Census Bureau data typically used to draw the maps not expected to be available before a June 30 deadline, the measure would give the state Supreme Court the power to appoint 16 independent citizen commissioners to a redistricting commission within 30 days of passage.

The commission would have an equal number of Republicans and Democrats to create the map instead of the majority legislative party, in this case, the Democratic Party, driving the process.

“He’s made several promises that he would veto an unfair map,” Durkin said of Pritzker, a Democrat. “In 2018, he urged Democrats and Republicans to create an independent commission. Where are you at now, governor?”

Durkin said the coming days would tell a lot, as a slew of committee hearings are scheduled on the issue with the clock ticking down.

 “We will find out soon enough if this is lip service,” he said. “It’s time for the democrats to stand behind their promises.”