This is the wish fulfillment of most Republican Congressmen in Illinois.
It was filed in Federal Court today.
Here’s the press release that goes with it:
Statement of Republican U.S. House Members from Illinois on
the Proposed Congressional Map Filed Today in Federal Court
“The Fair Map filed in federal court today proves that it is possible to create congressional districts that respect both constitutional and democratic principles. More importantly, this map stands in stark contrast to the contorted map passed by the Democrats, which is so gerrymandered that it can have no goal but to maximize partisan advantage by disregarding the will of Illinois voters.
“The Fair Map specifically addresses the problems with the Democrats’ map by providing a second district for the state’s growing Latino population, creating district lines that satisfy the tests for compactness, and protecting communities of interest by keeping them wholly within individual districts.
“We look forward to an impartial hearing in court that exposes the fatal flaws in the Democrats’ Illinois congressional redistricting scheme and recognizes the fact that creating fair, compact, and representative congressional districts is not only possible, but necessary.”
Rep. Judy Biggert (Il-13) Rep. Peter Roskam (Il-6)
Rep. Robert Dold (Il-10) Rep. Bobby Schilling (Il-17)
Rep. Randy Hultgren (Il-14) Rep. Aaron Schock (Il-18)
Rep. Adam Kinzinger (Il-11) Rep. John Shimkus (Il-19)
Rep. Don Manzullo (Il-16) Rep. Joe Walsh (Il-8)
Here’s a comparison of map lines in Northeastern Illinois:
The Republican map certainly looks more rational than the Democrats'.
McHenry County would be the center of the 8th Congressional District proposed by Republicans. It looks like a better map for State Rep. Jack Franks (D-Marengo) than what Illinois Democrats handed him.
Joe Walsh, a resident between McHenry and Johnsburg, would be the incumbent.
In the Democrats version of the 14th District, both Walsh and 14th District incumbent Randy Hultgren would reside in the same district.
Joe Walsh would be the incumbent in this 8th Congressional District, the Republican Party's version.
It, however, is heavily Republican, including both Boone County, northern Kane County and going east into and perhaps beyond Barrington Township in Cook County.
Just as with the Democrats’ remap, incumbent Congressman Don Manzullo would lose McHenry County. Unlike in the Democrats’ plan, his district would not encircle the Chicago metropolitan area ending up on the Illinois-Indiana line south of Kankakee.
Don Manzullo would be the incumbent in this GOP version of the 16th Congressional District.
The Illinois State Board of Elections (ISBE) has a new “Interactive GIS Map” on their website whereas inputting your address results in your US Congressional (House), Legislative (IL State Senate), and Representative (IL State House) districts for the remapped districts as they stand today, pending the three lawsuits.
http://www.elections.il.gov/gis.aspx
The Illinois GOP (Republicans – July 20, 2011), the Committee For a Fair and Balanced Map (Republicans – July 27, 2011), and the League of Women’s Voters have filed Federal lawsuits challenging the redistricting. There is a hearing scheduled December 7th, 2011 in Federal Court in Chicago.
Here is the transcript from The SPECIAL HOUSE COMMITTEE ON REDISTRICTING PUBLIC HEARING at Marengo Community High School, Marengo, Illinois on Saturday, April 16, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. Speakers included Jack Franks, Mike Tryon, Dan Frey (employee of the Illinois General Assembly who described the history and process including some demographic data), Judy Szilak (President of the League of Women Voters of McHenry County); Maggie Rivera, National Midwest VP and member of League of United Latin-American Citizens (LULAC) McHenry County Council 5260; Rosemary Kurtz, former state representative; Ken Koehler, County Board Chairman for McHenry County, speaking on behalf of himself, not
the County Board; Republican Janet Silosky, precinct committeeman for the 28th Precinct in Plainfield; Mary Donner, a Crystal Lake resident and Vice Chair for Planning & Development Committee on the McHenry County Board, speaking on behalf of Tina Hill, who is the chairman of that Committee; Steve Polep; Ken Goodman, resident of Sycamore, teacher at Sycamore HS, speaking as a citizen; Jim Carlin, Algonquin resident, formerly resided in Sun City, member of the Huntley Area Tea Party where he’s on the leadership committee; Cal Skinner; and Marymargaret Maule, Director and Coordinator of the Illinois Small Business Development Center at McHenry County College.
http://ilhousedems.com/redistricting/hearings/McHenry-April-16/Marengo041611.pdf
Ohio is taking a different approach in challenging redistricting maps. The issue is likely going to voter referendum.
We can also compare OH gambling expansion to IL.
Ohio is also in the midst of gambling expansion with construction of casinos underway or planned in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo. Video slots are planned at Ohio’s 7 horse racetracks in the form of 14,000 Video Lottery Terminals (VLTs) overseen by the Ohio Lottery Commission with implementation being about a year away. Slot machines are controlled by a chip inside each machine, whereas VLTs are connected to a network of computers that monitor pay outs and play, from an operations room in the facility or elsewhere.
Ohio has a Republican Governor and Republicans hold a super majority in the State Senate, a majority in the State House, 6-1 majority on the Ohio Supreme Court, one of two US Senate seats, and 13 of 18 US House seats. Ohio is losing 2 of those US House seats due to redistricting.
According to the Census Bureau, Ohio’s population rose by 1.6 percent during the past decade to 11,536,504 people, the nation’s fourth slowest growth rate. During that time Illinois’ population grew 3.3% to 12,830,632 people, the Midwest grew 3.9% to 66,927,001, and the US as a whole grew 9.7% to 308,745,538 people. Michigan was the only state where population declined.
An interesting side note, IL State Representative Mike Fortner (R-West Chicago) – 95th District submitted the winning map for the Ohio Campaign for Accountable Redistricting contest redistricting Ohio’s US Congressional districts. Fortner has been remapped from the 95th to the 49th House District in IL.
Supreme Court: Redistricting maps can be put to public vote
David Eggert
The Columbus Dispatch
October 14, 2011 8:30 PM
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2011/10/14/court-rules-maps-open-to-referendum.html
Ohio Republican Party
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio_Republican_Party
Ohio will lose two congressional seats, Census Bureau says
Published: Tuesday, December 21, 2010, 11:27 AM
Updated: Tuesday, December 21, 2010, 5:42 PM
By Sabrina Eaton, The Plain Dealer (Cleveland)
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2010/12/ohio_to_lose_congressional_sea.html
Population Distribution and Change: 2000 to 2010
2010 Census Briefs
Issued March 2011
C2010BR-01
By Paul Mackun and Steven Wilson (With Thomas Fischetti and Justyna Goworowska)
http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-01.pdf
Ohio Lottery Commission fast-tracks licensing slots at state horse tracks
Monday, October 17, 2011, 9:19 PM
Dave Davis, The Plain Dealer (Cleveland)
http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2011/10/ohio_lottery_commission_fast-t.html
http://www.ohiogaminglaw.com/news/