Editorial: Illinois Democrats push redistricting ‘reform’ that maintains their own power

By The Editorial Board | Chicago Tribune

Yesterday we wrote about a Springfield constitutional amendment push for a tax on millionaires dressed up under the guise of property tax relief and boosted school funding. Thankfully, it appears that amendment is going nowhere this session.

Now, lawmakers are advancing another constitutional amendment — this one targeting how Illinois draws its political maps. And no, it won’t get us the fair maps voters so richly deserve.

Here’s what’s on the table.

House Speaker Chris Welch on Monday filed a proposal — House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 28 — that amends political mapmaking rules by creating a ranked list of five criteria to be followed.

First, legislative districts must be substantially equal in population. This already is required by the Illinois Constitution. Second, districts must be drawn to ensure “equal opportunity” to participate in the political process regardless of race. Third, districts must be drawn, where practical, to create racial coalition or influence districts. (The phrase “where practical” seems open to interpretation.) And coming in as the lowest priorities, districts should be contiguous and compact — “to the extent practicable.” That major hedge is new, and seriously waters down the importance of these two existing constitutional criteria.

This redistricting amendment advanced to the Senate on Wednesday after clearing the House on a 74-38 vote. To reach voters this November, it would still need Senate approval by May 3. If it passes, HJRCA 28 will end up on the ballot, where voters will be asked to weigh in.

Welch has positioned these changes as necessary to combat potential changes to the Voting Rights Act, amid ongoing legal uncertainty over how courts will treat race-conscious redistricting. Illinois isn’t the only blue state gearing up for this possibility — California is currently advancing changes to its California Voting Rights Act, too. Notably, California has a very different mapmaking system, using an independent commission to draw maps, unlike Illinois, where politicians get to pick their voters.

Illinois Democrats say they’re fighting to protect us from President Donald Trump and the Supreme Court, but who will protect us from Illinois Democrats?

Editorial continues here.