Senate OKs interstate redistricting plan

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - The Illinois Senate has adopted a plan that would create a uniform, interstate process for drawing political boundaries.

Chicago Democratic Sen. Kwame Raoul's (KWAH'-may rah-OOLZ') plan was adopted 42-6 Thursday. He says it answers the call President Barack Obama made in February when he addressed the Illinois General Assembly in which he once served. Obama called for fair redistricting processes that eliminated drawing boundaries to favor one party over another.

The idea - if approved in Illinois - would have to be OK'd by the 37 other states that have at least three congressional districts. It would establish independent commissions to draw political districts every decade after the Census. They would be designed to insulate the process from partisanship.

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The bill is SB322

Online: http://www.ilga.gov