Illinois | October 29, 2021
Illinois lawmakers pass Congressional boundary maps for next 10 years hours after release without public hearing
Illinois | October 29, 2021
Democrats at the Illinois statehouse early Friday morning passed new congressional maps, which will last for the next decade, hours after the latest legislative boundaries were released late Thursday night without a public hearing.
Illinois lost a seat in Congress for the next ten years because of the state’s continued population decline. Illinois will now be 17 seats in the U.S. Congress. For weeks, statehouse Republicans have been trying to discern what input is being considered by Democrat staff crafting the maps. During a midday hearing Thursday, state Sen. Jason Barickman, R-Bloomington, asked Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, several different ways whether the governor’s office has been involved. “Thank you, counselor, are we preparing for litigation at this point,” Harmon said. “I’m just trying to get a question answered as to whether the governor provided you input on the bill,” Barickman said.“I am not aware of any notes or any input,” Harmon said. Thursday’s hearing was on the third draft of the map…. (Excerpts from the Washington Examiner)