Chambana Sun

Illinois state Rep. Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville) readily admits one of his signature campaign issues may not be such a big deal if map districting across the state were not stretched far beyond reason.

“Map districting and gerrymandering are beyond being just major issues,” Halbrook told the Chambana Sun. “I talked a lot about term limits on the campaign trail but the reality is if we had reforms to the way we draw districts up that would go a long way toward solving the issue. As it is we need a new method for determining districts. I think we need to put the question of fair maps and term limits before the voters.”

After the U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that partisan redistricting is a political question and not an issue for federal courts to entertain, even when it comes to the question if extreme gerrymandering violates the Constitution, Halbrook said he wouldn’t mind seeing the issue go before the Illinois Supreme Court as a way of giving voters more of an ultimate say on the matter.

“We wanted to open up the state Constitution over the issue of revenue reforms [so] let's open it up for something like this, fighting for a question to be put on the ballot for voters when it comes to fair maps and term limits,” he said.

Several Republican lawmakers already are encouraging voters to join the push for HJRCA 10, an independent map-drawing process that  would strip state legislators of the authority to draw legislative maps and turn it over to a an independent commission.

Halbrook said he’s not surprised that most Democrats do not appear to be fans of the proposal.

“Many of them want the status quo,” he said. “In central Illinois, voters are tired of career politicians and really want that change.”