Rockford Sun

State Rep. Jeff Keicher (R-Sycamore) leaves little doubt about what he thinks of the new map redistricting plan put forth by Democrats.

“Again, Illinois Democrats force through a shady map via a sham process and breaching their oath to support a fair maps process,” Keicher posted on Facebook. “I’m pretty sure the governor will again break his promise and sign it despite the minority interest groups urging him not to.”

Keicher is far from alone in expressing outrage, with CHANGE Illinois going as far as to accuse the governor of putting his own interest ahead of those of the people he’s entrusted with representing.

“Drawing district maps in locked back rooms yet again, Illinois lawmakers underscored their utter disregard for the will of the people and for the bedrock democratic principles of open government by and for the people,” CHANGE Illinois Executive Director Madeline Doubek said in a press release. “Gov. Pritzker said he wanted maps that reflect the state’s rich diversity. These maps fall far short of that request and should be rejected by him. Failing that, we hope the courts will force the correction of lawmakers’ callous political mapping calculations.”

Pritzker and Democrats were recently forced to redraw the maps after their first attempt sparked lawsuits alleging violation of the Constitution’s one-person, one-vote principle.

Other groups pressing Pritzker to honor the pledge he made as a candidate to veto any maps drawn along partisan lines include the Illinois Muslim Civic Coalition, the United Congress of Community and Religious Organizations, Latino Policy Forum, the Decalogue Society of Lawyers, Common Cause Illinois, Agudath Israel of Illinois, Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Nonprofit Utopia.

“Twice in a matter of months, Illinoisans have seen their overwhelming pleas for independent and transparent mapmaking utterly ignored by those elected to represent them,” Doubek said. “Their maps make a farce of democracy and their mapmaking process was a charade. Illinois lawmakers have effectively demonstrated the clear and compelling need to end gerrymandering once and for all.”