A press release from Mike Tryon:
House Democrats Push Through Gerrymandered Redistricting Map
Dems Deny Vote on Fair Map Proposal; Shun Public Input in Favor of Partisan Map
Springfield…In a stunning reversal of their repeated pledge to lead an open and transparent redistricting process, House and Senate Democrats introduced and quickly passed a new legislative redistricting map late this week that is significantly different from the remap proposal presented last week.
The bait-and-switch follows weeks of public hearings that were held throughout the state to obtain local citizen input on how Illinois’ new map should be drawn.
Mike Tryon
“So much for transparency,” said Representative Mike Tryon (R-Crystal Lake), who voted against the map. “The democrats claimed this would be an open and fair process, but today they pulled a bait-and-switch maneuver and rushed through a vote on a proposal that the public has never seen and on which the public has never had an opportunity to comment. It’s the best example yet for why we desperately need to reform the remap process.”
According to Tryon, the map approved today includes political protections that will help Democrats hold their seats and perhaps gain a greater majority over the next ten years.
The new map pits 17 incumbent Republicans in races against each other in 2012.
In addition, the new map retains most of the Chicago legislative districts, despite the fact that a great deal of the population loss over the last ten years occurred within the City of Chicago.
“We presented a fair alternative map which maintains county and municipality boarders while looking solely at population numbers rather than on precinct voter data,” said Tryon.
“Our map, which was summarily ignored by the majority party, included districts that were equal in population, in compliance with the Federal and Illinois Voting Rights Acts, and mindful of the rights of minority representation.”
The district lines proposed by Republicans.
The Fair Map (Republican proposal) and accompanying data is available for viewing at www.ilhousegop.org/themap.
It’s disingenuous for the party out of power to complain about fairness and transparency after the party in power has drawn the map. This is the way the process has taken place for decades, regardless of which party was in power. History has shown that legislative and congressional reapportionment plans in Illinois are drafted and rammed through by the majority, or drafted by the majority and imposed by a Supreme Court majority to favor the party that controls the Court at the time, or on the rare occasions when there is balance the winner is drawn from Lincoln’s hat (or maybe a crystal bowl, I forget) and that winning party’s map becomes law.
I hate to be a cynic, but this system is never going to change until there is a constitutional amendment to require computer-drawn districts. Until then, when the GOP is in control they will make every effort to screw the Dems and protect their members, and when the Dems are in power they will repay the favor. In this particular case the Dems may actually be doing the GOP establishment a favor by targeting the Tea Party Troika of Walsh, Kinzinger and Dold (sounds like a law firm).
All i have to say is wow. Mike tryon kissing butt. Whats new. But if you ever have a political view that is not in his republican party interest, You cant find the jerk as he hides behind his secratary until its time to boost his political support again. Im not republican or democrate (indipendent), but only because of people like mike tryon. I was born and raised a republican, But this is a joke and so are there efforts to make this world a better place. These People are only in it for themselves and have no opinions except what there partys give them. VOTE THEM ALL OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!REPUBLICANS AND DEMS…..VOTE FOR YOUR NEIGHBOR, FRIEND, TEACHER, A BUM ON THE STREETS…ANYONE BUT THESE WORTHLESS COUNTY WORKERS THAT CANT GET NOTHING DONE EXCEPT ATTACK EACH PARTYS OPINIONS. VOTE THEM ALL OUT