Macon Reporter

Veteran state Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur) isn’t shy about expressing his disgust with the way Democrats have handled the latest map redistricting.

"Ever wonder what gerrymandering looks like? What corruption in politics looks like,” Caulkins posted to Facebook. “In order to keep power in Springfield, Democrats are choosing their voters in Macon and Sangamon counties. Instead of giving Macon County the representation it deserves, we will have four different reps in an attempt to keep State Rep. Sue Scherer safe.”

In a 74-43 vote that played out along partisan lines, Democrats were successful in passing legislation that – if signed by the governor – will affect elections across the state for the next decade.

Caulkins says the redistricting is reminiscent of former House Speaker Mike Madigan's efforts.

“This district continues to look like Mike Madigan's old maps that he drew to keep him in power,” he said. “You should be able to choose your politicians, not the other way around. This is pathetic.”

State Rep. Jeff Keicher (R-Sycamore) is demanding that Gov. J.B. Pritzker veto the measure as soon as it hits his desk.

“I share the sentiments Leader Jim Durkin expressed,” Keicher said, according to Shaw Media. “Politicians should not be drawing maps. Period. I join those urging Governor Pritzker to stand by his campaign promise and veto this bill.”

The just-passed redistricting measure was in response to lawsuits from Republican lawmakers and the American Legal Defense and Education Fund over previous maps deemed “flawed and unconstitutional because they were based on population estimates from the American Community Survey rather than the 2020 census.”

With the release of updated census data taking place this month, Democrats say the maps will be adjusted when the legislature reconvenes in Springfield later this month.

Typically lawmakers have relied on census data to complete the task of redistricting, but with the release of 2020 data slowed by the impact of the pandemic, Democrats used data from the American Community Survey  to meet a June 30 deadline set by the state constitution.

Failure to meet the deadline would have led to the creation of an eight-person, bipartisan commission to handle the job. In the event that group was unable to agree on a direction, a ninth person would be randomly picked to settle the issue.