Illinois voter suppression rampant thanks to few ballot choices

By Ann Miller, Patrick Andriesen

05/11/2022

Progressive voices decry voter suppression in states such as Texas, but the very blue state of Illinois is guilty of rampant voter suppression using a system of maps and rules that defeat many challengers before they ever get on the ballot. A new effort is working to change that.

TAGS: ballot, gerrymandering, Illinois, legislative map, voter suppression

Democrats’ legislative remap dilutes Illinois minority voting power, lawsuits claim

By Patrick Andriesen

12/10/2021

The plaintiffs representing Black and Latino voters argued Illinois Democrats’ new legislative maps are gerrymandered to break up voting blocs, diluting minority voting power during the next decade.

TAGS: gerrymandering, JB Pritzker, legislative map

Pritzker again breaks veto promise, signs gerrymandered congressional maps

By Patrick Andriesen

12/01/2021

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the congressional district map designed to boost Democrats in the U.S. House. With districts that snake and twist across the state, gerrymandering remains a hallmark of Illinois politics despite Pritzker’s pledge to veto such maps.

TAGS: gerrymandering, JB Pritzker, legislative map

Illinois’ ‘extreme’ risk of gerrymandering becomes reality through congressional map

By Robert Brutvan

10/16/2021

The Illinois congressional map proposal released by Democrats has districts that are far from compact, snaking to catch and avoid populations. Republicans label it the ‘Nancy Pelosi Protection Plan.’

TAGS: gerrymandering, Illinois, legislative map, redistricting

Illinois lawmakers enact gerrymandered political maps

By Joe Tabor

09/01/2021

Gov. J.B. Pritzker promised to pass fair maps. On Aug. 31, politicians enacted maps that go back on that promise.

TAGS: gerrymandering, JB Pritzker, legislative map

Democrats’ legislative maps slam GOP after Pritzker breaks veto promise

By Brad Weisenstein

05/24/2021

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker gave fellow Democrats a very clear signal to gerrymander state legislative maps when he backed off his veto threat and said he trusted them to be fair. Mike Madigan-style maps place 23 Republicans into races against other incumbents.

TAGS: Democratic Party, gerrymandering, JB Pritzker, legislative map

Illinois is under ‘extreme’ threat of drawing another Madigan election map

By Joe Tabor

05/20/2021

Illinois is listed as one of the states under ‘extreme’ danger of partisan gerrymandering of its state legislative and congressional redistricting maps. Gov. J.B. Pritzker can stop that threat.

TAGS: gerrymandering, Illinois, legislative map, Mike Madigan

Illinois loses 1 seat in Congress, but Republicans may lose 2

By Patrick Andriesen

05/19/2021

A proposed map for new U.S. House districts in Illinois has been making the rounds in Springfield. Republicans stand to lose a lot.

TAGS: Illinois, legislative district, legislative map, redistricting, U.S. Congress

How COVID-19 is throwing Illinoisans’ next choices for Congress in doubt

By Joe Tabor

02/23/2021

Because of delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Census Bureau will not have the data for states’ political redistricting until the end of September. Illinois faces problems likely to land any political maps in court.

TAGS: COVID-19, legislative map, U.S. Congress

Illinois police serve search warrant at Madigan’s Springfield office, looking for evidence of sexual assault, battery by former state lawmaker

By Austin Berg

02/01/2020

State police executed the search warrant in an attempt to find evidence of criminal behavior by former Democratic state Rep. Jack Franks.

TAGS: corruption, fair maps, fair tax, graduated income tax, house rules, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, Illinois House of Representatives, illinois state police, independent maps, investigation, Jack Franks, JB Pritzker, legislative map, Mike Madigan, progressive income tax, redistricting, rules committee, search warrant, sexual harrassment, Springfield, State of the State

Fixing Illinois pension crisis by amending nation’s most-restrictive pension law is legal, effective

Illinois is home to one of the worst pension crises in the country.1 At 39% funded, according to the nonpartisan Pew Charitable Trusts, Illinois has the worst pension funding ratio of any state.2 By contrast, neighboring Wisconsin’s pension system is 103% funded.3 In fiscal year 2022, Illinois’ total general funds pension costs, including pension bond...

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Fixing Illinois pension crisis by amending nation’s most-restrictive pension law is legal, effective

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Linda Ekendahl

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students