Push for lots of maps, open debates

The Illinois Senate took steps this fall to approve a plan for creating new political cartography next year. Senate Bill 3976 moved quickly and now sits in the House, ready for quick action in the new year.

The bill sounds like a shining example of open democracy. It creates the “Redistricting Transparency and Public Participation Act.”

Sounds marvelous, doesn't it? That part of the bill mandates that the House and Senate create committees, after the census results are released, to hear proposals to redraw House, Senate and congressional districts reflecting state population changes. A joint committee or committees would be required to hold at least four hearings, one each in different parts of the state, that would be open to the public. The public must be notified of the time, date and location of the hearings six days in advance.

That's all well and good. But there is nothing in Senate Bill 3976 that requires any hearings or public input once the political party powers-that-be actually have drafted the new districts. So, yes, it could very well be that the Democratic majority draws maps that naturally will be designed to withstand court challenges but also naturally will be designed to preserve the Democratic majority for the next 10 years. And, as it's currently drafted, there will be no hearing after proposed maps are drawn.

Some good-government groups tried this year to collect enough signatures to get a question on the fall ballot requiring a more open map-drawing process, but they fell short.

There is nothing here that would allow, as occurs in many other states, Joe Q. Public to submit his own map, drawn using the census data and mapping software, for public introduction, debate and consideration. That sort of openness and transparency is precisely what still is needed in Illinois.

Seven amendments to the redistricting bill offered by Senate Republicans were buried. It would seem majority Democrats want taxpayers to think they are being open and transparent, but they are not. And their recent record on transparency is dim and cloudy. Recently, they improved the Freedom of Information Act but then repeatedly watered it down. They closed off scores of personnel records for teachers, administrators and most government employees so that we, who pay the salaries, cannot see whether someone is doing his job well. Now they're trying to keep us in the dark again. We call upon suburban House Democrats to work with their colleagues to pressure their leaders to fix this bill so that public map alternatives are allowed and multiple hearings are held after all the map options are drawn. These maps are the key to who will hold how much power in Illinois for 10 years. They must not be drawn behind closed doors and pushed through under the guise of full transparency.