South Central Reporter

Rep. Avery Bourne (R-Litchfield) is challenging Gov. J.B. Pritzker to honor his word in the growing debate over map redistricting.

“Because of the gravity of the process, it is important that this is taken out of the hands of partisans and is independent and fair,” Bourne said during a recent news conference on the subject posted to YouTube. “[Pritzker] said he wanted it taken out of the hands of partisans and made a pledge that he would veto any map drawn by partisans.”

While Bourne admits much has changed between now and then, she believes the Pritzker should still be obligated to keep his word.

“While the context may have changed, and it was assumed that Mike Madigan would be drawing the map, his pledge cannot change,” she said.

Madigan (D-Chicago) is the former House speaker. He resigned from office after legislators elected a new House speaker. 

Like a growing number of Republican lawmakers, Bourne said the People’s Independent Maps Act proposed by them is a ready-made solution to make the process a fairer one. 

Generally, the party with the legislative majority drives the redistricting process. In Illinois, that would be the Democrats, who control the House and Senate and the Governor’s Office. 

“I’m here with my colleagues to remind the governor of the pledge he made and to confirm that Republicans are here to work with him,” she said. “We need a fair process that allows for fair representation for all Illinoisans.”

With U.S. Census Bureau officials saying that the data provided as part of the redistricting process won’t be available before a June 30 deadline, the debate over the best way to complete the once-in-every-decade task seems to grow more intense by the day.

The People’s Independent Maps Act would remove lawmakers from the job of redrawing maps and give the state Supreme Court the power to appoint 16 independent citizen commissioners to a redistricting commission within 30 days of passage.

“We have a real opportunity to set forth a new path for redistricting and provide a fair map,” Bourne said. ”We can’t afford to squander this opportunity.”