Peoria Standard

State Rep. Ryan Spain (R-Peoria) thinks it's well past time that Illinois follows the lead of other states by removing lawmakers from the business of legislative redistricting.

"I and many other members of the General Assembly, on both sides of the aisle, for years and years have worked to amend the state constitution so that we don't arrive in the situation where partisan incumbents are drawing maps to protect themselves and select their own voters," Spain said during a recent House Redistricting Committee hearing. "That's the fundamental issue in the state of Illinois, and it has delivered us such bad outcomes in terms of our government."

Spain quizzed witness Wendy Underhill about California's process by using a commission that doesn't include lawmakers and if she thinks that approach could work in Illinois.

"Republicans are not out to deliver a coin flip in this process," he said. "We have to find a way to come together to develop a matchmaking process that can deliver different outcomes that protect our communities, our diversity, making sure that everyone can be represented."

With the Census Bureau data typically relied on to help draw the maps not expected to be available before a June 30 deadline, Republicans have proposed the People's Independent Maps Act as a fair and just solution.

The measure would give the state Supreme Court the power to appoint a 16-member independent commission to head the redistricting process. 

If approved, lawmakers would mostly be removed from the redistricting process. 

Illinois has 118 House and 59 Senate districts. The Democrats have the majority in both chambers.

Lawmakers have been holding redistricting hearings in various areas throughout Illinois. Redistricting is necessary after each decennial census to adjust for population changes within district boundaries for the Illinois House and Senate.