Sangamon Sun

Republican House Redistricting Committee spokesperson Tim Butler (R-Springfield) is angry his voice never had a chance to be heard when it came to the state’s new legislative maps.

“I think what we have here today is the culmination of a foregone conclusion among the Democrats in Illinois – a bad deal for the public – but it's a deal between Gov. Pritzker and the General Assembly to push through partisan maps and push aside their concerns that have they have voiced for several months now about these maps,” Butler said in a video posted to You Tube after the governor officially signed off on the new maps. “They pushed aside these concerns to solidify their own political monopoly in Illinois.”

Butler points out that as a gubernatorial candidate, Pritzker vowed to veto any map drawn along partisan lines, and just hours before signing off on the maps, told reporters he had not yet reviewed them.

“Well, obviously, the governor didn't need to review the maps,” he added. “If he had not reviewed them last night and signed them today, it was a foregone conclusion he had in mind. In fact, he probably just could have come to the chambers of the legislature and signed them as soon as they were voted upon.”

Butler argues one thing rings clear.

“What we have here today is the governor going back on his word, the Democrats continuing to do the same old playbook that they've had for generations to the detriment of the people of Illinois,” he said. “This is a sad day in the history of Illinois. We had an opportunity in this 10-year cycle to move forward in a positive fashion that so many of us supported. But, Governor, you let us down. You let the people down, more importantly, and that's on you.”

Butler is far from being the only voice now blasting Pritzker for his change of heart, with Wirepoints President Ted Dabrowski recently appearing on an episode of Chicago Morning Answer to blast Pritzker for reneging on his word.

"He made that promise a while back but I think he's missing in action on that," Dabrowski said. "I wouldn't expect any change there."