Sangamon Sun

With state lawmakers due back in Springfield this month, state Sen. Steve McClure (R-Jacksonville) is demanding answers about a secret panel reported to have been empowered by Democrats that is now flexing authority over the state’s legislative makeup.

“Yesterday there was discussion about an article written by Greg Hinz, a well-respected reporter from Crain's,” McClure said at a Senate Redistricting Committee hearing earlier this month. “What he reports is what’s known for sure is that three-person panels comprised of aides to Speaker Welch, Senate President Harmon and Gov. Pritzker have been meeting separately in recent days with every Democratic member of the state’s congressional delegation to see what they want out of the decennial reapportionment.”

McClure didn’t seem overly swayed by state Sen. Elgie Sims' (D-Chicago) insistence that he had no knowledge of any such meetings, pressing on with his line of questioning during his time at the podium.

“There was a brief discussion with Chairman [Omar] Aquino yesterday and I guess my question is has your side of the aisle looked into that?” he asked. “What do we know about these meetings? Are any of these folks going to be testifying in front of our committee so we can be more transparent in this process and where are we on these secret meetings that are taking place?”

"I am unaware of any meetings taking place," Sims said. "I’ve not seen the article so I can’t comment on those meetings or that article."

McClure is joined by his Republican colleagues in arguing that Democrats have purposely continued to ignore lawmakers and activists who have sought answers and input on the issue, largely accounting for the smaller crowds now seen at hearings like the one he spoke at.

“People want an open transparent process where they know what’s going on,” state Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield) told KWQC.com. “That they get ample time, at least two weeks, which multiple groups have said, to respond to any maps that are introduced, and to do it in an open and transparent manner.”