Sangamon Sun

State Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield) is using Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s own words against him in the debate over fair redistricting in Illinois.

“The governor has made numerous commitments about the remap process in Illinois,” Butler said during a recent press conference at the Capitol. "He said he would veto a partisan-drawn map; he said he respects a fair process; he said he wants a redistricting commission. None of that has happened on his watch.”

The remapping process draws legislative maps usually based on U.S. Census figures. During his days as a candidate, Pritzker vowed to veto any map drawn by politicians. The job of map redistricting is carried out once every decade, but due a delay of federal Census Bureau data largely caused by COVID-19, the process may be different this cycle.

While the task normally goes to the party in control, Republican lawmakers are hopeful delays in  receiving data will open the door to them having a greater say in the process. Bylaws dictate if a new map is not completed by a June 30 deadline, a bipartisan commission with four members from each party chosen by party leaders will supervise redistricting.

“We did invest $30 million to make sure we have a complete count,” Butler said. “Many of us supported that; the governor wanted to make sure we had a complete count. Unfortunately because of the situation, we’re not going to use that data where we used $30 million. We’re going to use American Community Survey data."

Butler said he sees that as meaning just one thing.

“That’s going back on the promise the governor made to the people of Illinois to use the best data available,” he said. “The best data available won’t come until August. We need to hold the governor to his word to make sure he’s going to veto a partisan-drawn map, that’s he going to respect a fair map.”