Sangamon Sun

Republican state Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield) wishes he could count on Democrats to mean what they say when it comes to map redistricting.

“Every committee hearing that we’ve had in the House, whoever has chaired the meeting has said the exact same thing: House Democrats are dedicated to transparency and public participation in redistricting process,” he said during a recent press conference at the Capitol. ”What has happened over the last several days is the opposite of transparency. To have maps released in PDF format, straight out of 1990 clip art, released Friday night and then to be followed up late Sunday with a Google map does nothing for transparency.”

Butler, who also serves as the Republican spokesperson for the House Redistricting Committee, argues everything Democrats have done toward the once-every-decade task was aimed at keeping them in control.

“They released these maps without any data, knowing that American Community Survey data is not the data needed to draw the new boundaries for legislative maps,” he said. “We need Census data that won’t be out until the end of August. Frankly, these maps make a joke of the redistricting process and are a slap in the face to Republicans who have been demanding fairness and openness to this process.”

Butler called on Gov. J.B. Pritzker to stand by his word and not turn the maps he argues were drawn solely by Democrats in complete secrecy into law.  

“The governor has made numerous commitments about the remap process in Illinois,” Butler said. "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.”

As a gubernatorial candidate, Pritzker vowed to veto any legislative maps drawn by politicians.

“I think it speaks volumes that the majority continues to refuse to answer questions,” Butler added. “We went to bat for a redistricting process when we had a Republican governor. I call on the governor to veto these maps drawn unfairly.”