SPRINGFIELD – Democratic leaders in the General Assembly have released a second draft district plans proposed by Congress over the weekend as they prepare for the final three days of their fall veto session.
Like the first card game released on October 15, the latest draft would create a number of oddly shaped districts that are believed to favor Democratic candidates in the 2022 midterm election.
They would also create a second “coalition” district in the Chicago area, defined in the Illinois Voting Rights Act as “a district where more than one racial or linguistic minority group can form a coalition to elect the candidate for election. his choice. “
“These new boundaries proposed by Congress are historic and reflect the great diversity found throughout the state,” said Representative Lisa Hernandez, D-Cicero, who chairs the House Redistricting Committee. “The proposal ensures that minorities, along with the rest of Illinois, have a fair voice in representation in Washington. “
Lee Enterprises Illinois State Government reporter Brenden Moore speaks with Illinois redistribution expert Frank Calabrese about the new state maps.
The Illinois congressional delegation is currently split between 13 Democrats and five Republicans, but the state is losing one of its districts next year due to its loss of population since the 2010 census.
An analysis from the political site FiveThirtyEight estimates that the maps would create 13 Democratic-leaning districts, three Republican-leaning districts and one very competitive district, the 17th district, currently represented by Democrat Cheri Bustos, of Moline, who announced that she would not would not seek re-election next year.
Losing two Republican seats in Illinois could prove significant next year as Democrats are expected to lose seats and possibly their slim majority in the US House.
The proposed card would accomplish that, in part, by pitting a number of outgoing Republicans against each other.
Republican Representatives Mike Bost, of Murphysboro, and Mary Miller, of Oakland, would be placed in a single district in southern Illinois.
The map would also place Republican Representatives Darin LaHood, of Peoria, and Adam Kinzinger, of Channahon, in a reshaped 16th Borough that would stretch from the Bloomington-Normal area to the Wisconsin border, surrounding the city of Rockford.
Meanwhile, Republican Rodney Davis, of Taylorville, would be placed in a remodeled 15th Borough that includes his hometown, winds east around the town of Champaign, then returns west to encompass much of the center. -western Illinois, from an area just north of St. Louis to an area just south of Quad Cities.
There are big changes to this map. In terms of potential confrontations between holders and holders:
Casten vs. Newman
Kinzinger vs. LaHood
Boss vs. MillerIt seems like a much better card for Rodney Davis. #serge https://t.co/nIhhmQvElR
– Brenden Moore (@ brendenmoore13) 23 October 2021
The plan would also create a new 13th Borough that would stretch from Belleville to East St. Louis for about 170 miles along a narrow stretch that would stretch to Springfield, Decatur and Champaign. That district currently has no incumbents, but FiveThirtyEight estimates it would tip Democrats by around 7 percentage points.
Republican leaders in the General Assembly did not immediately comment on the latest proposal, which is still subject to change before lawmakers vote on a new plan, presumably later this week.
The House redistribution committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on the proposal at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Statehouse. The Senate redistribution committee is due to meet on Wednesday, but the time and location have not yet been announced.
See the new Illinois laws that came into effect on July 1
665 tickets
Update
The Democrat-controlled Illinois General Assembly approved 665 bills this legislative session, with the vast majority awaiting Gov. JB Pritzker’s signature.
But, Pritzker signed 42 bills. A handful of them will come into effect on January 1, 2022, but most have entered into force upon signature or will take effect on Thursday.
Here are some notable new laws in effect now or Thursday that Illinoisans should know about.
Electoral reform
Update
With the pandemic-related delays in the US census redistribution numbers, lawmakers have postponed the 2022 state primary elections from March 15 to June 28. The legislation also makes election day a public holiday, requires every county to have at least one universal voting center, and allows people to be added to a permanent mail-ballot list. (SB825)
Vote by mail
Update
Some pandemic-induced changes to voting for the 2020 general election, such as postal voting and curbside filing, will now be permanent features of future elections. (House Bill 1871)
State legislative redistribution
Update
As they’re tasked with doing every 10 years, lawmakers approved new district boundaries for the Illinois House and Senate. Maps drawn by Democrats, who used the U.S. community survey of the U.S. census instead of waiting for decennial census figures to arrive later this year, have been challenged in court by Republicans and some other groups. (HB2777)
Illinois Supreme Court Redistribution
Update
The Illinois Supreme Court’s seven-person district boundaries were successfully redrawn for the first time since the 1960s. (SB642)
Police reform
Update
There has not been a more controversial bill that passed this year than House Bill 3653, also known as the SAFE-T Act, which passed during the Duck Session. lame in January. The provisions ending the cash bond and requiring all police officers to wear body cameras will not come into effect until 2023 and 2025, respectively. But from Thursday, the police will have to rescue the wounded, intervene when a fellow officer uses excessive force and limit their use of force. It also offers more stringent guidelines for the decertification of officers and would allow people to file anonymous complaints of police misconduct. (HB3653)
Payday loans
Update
Lenders are now prohibited from charging more than 36% annual percentage rate on consumer loans. The average rate in Illinois was nearly 300% before the law was signed. (SB1792)
Vaccine lottery
Update
The state’s fiscal year 2022 budget includes $ 10 million for a “vaccine lottery.” All Illinois residents vaccinated before July 1 will automatically be entered into the contest. It includes $ 7 million in cash prizes for vaccinated adults, ranging from $ 100,000 to $ 1 million, and $ 3 million in scholarships for vaccinated youth. (SB2800)
Remuneration of collegiate athletes
Update
Starting July 1, Illinois varsity athletes will be allowed to benefit financially from their name, image and likeness, for example through product promotions, signing autographs or appearing their names in video games. (SB2338)
COVID-19 emergency housing
Update
Created guidelines for distributing over $ 1 billion in federal stimulus funds for COVID-related housing assistance. Also creates automatic sealing of evictions during the pandemic. (SB2877)
Pre-trial interest
Update
Victims of personal injury and wrongful death will be entitled to collect interest from defendants from the time a lawsuit is filed. It aims to encourage the settlement of these cases. He was supported by trial lawyers and opposed by business groups. (SB72)
Casino work
Update
All Illinois casino applicants are now required to enter into a project-work agreement when seeking a new or renewed license. (SB1360)
Compensation for victims of crime
Update
Provides that a victim’s criminal history or crime status does not automatically preclude compensation for that victim or their family. Extends the claimant’s deadline for submitting requested information to 45 days instead of 30 days and provides that final compensation should not exceed $ 45,000, compared to $ 27,000, for a crime committed on or after August 7, 2022. (HB3295)
Electronic signature
Update
Provides that a contract, recording or signature cannot be denied legal effect or enforceability simply because it is in electronic form or an electronic recording was used in its formation. Provides that if a law requires that a recording be in writing, an electronic recording complies with the law. (SB2176)