South Central Reporter

State Sen. Steve McClure (R-Jacksonville) has been asking questions about a recent news report that alleges Democratic lawmakers drawing legislative maps are holding secretive meetings.

“Yesterday there was discussion about an article written by Greg Hinz, a well-respected reporter from Crain's,” McClure said at a Senate Redistricting Committee hearing earlier this month. “What he reports is what’s known for sure is that three-person panels comprised of aides to Speaker Welch, Senate President Harmon and Gov. Pritzker have been meeting separately in recent days with every Democratic member of the state’s congressional delegation to see what they want out of the decennial reapportionment.”

McClure appeared unmoved by state Sen. Elgie Sims' (D-Chicago) response that he had no knowledge of any such meetings, pressing on with his line of questioning while at the microphone.

“There was a brief discussion with Chairman [Omar] Aquino yesterday and I guess my question is has your side of the aisle looked into that?” he asked. “What do we know about these meetings? Are any of these folks going to be testifying in front of our committee so we can be more transparent in this process and where are we on these secret meetings that are taking place?”

McClure is hardly alone in taking the position Democrats have intentionally ignored activist groups who have pushed for answers and sought to give input on the issue, largely accounting for the smaller crowds now seen at hearings like the one he spoke at.

“People want an open, transparent process where they know what’s going on,” state Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield) told KWQC.com. “That they get ample time, at least two weeks, which multiple groups have said, to respond to any maps that are introduced, and to do it in an open and transparent manner.”