PEORIA -- Illinois General Assembly Committee on Redistricting meets in Peoria at noon on Tuesday, September 22, at Bradley University's Hartmann Center Theatre, on the campus. (Parking for this event should be interesting!)
The Peoria Journal Star has a story on what will take place.
It's easy for good government types to feel outrage about legislative and congressional districts and the way they are drawn. But would an Iowa system, with more competitive districts, really change the way government works in Illinois?
Despite the bluster, Illinois is actually a fairly well run state. Yes, it has financial problems, but most states are facing those same problems.
At least it has a pro-choice government that respects the rights of women to reproductive health, is not a right-to-work state, and is not trying to kick evolution out of its schools, and has a moratorium on the death penalty. It has child health care coverage, free bus transportation for seniors, and other progressive measures (those latter two courtesy of the ousted Gov. Blago.)
It could be better. It needs a bottle/can recycling law, for example. It needs a more open and transparent child welfare system. And it needs to stop wasting money funding some not-for-profits and faith-based groups that have cozied up to members of the General Assembly.
As for corruption, Blago and his predecessor, George Ryan, apparently used their offices to raise money to run their campaigns. They squeezed people who finally revolted and ratted them out to the authorities.
Would redistricting really change that temptation for public officials, or make it worse, as more offices became more competitive?
Would it improve state government? How?
That's a key question that redistricting proponents must answer. Otherwise why bother to change the system?
-- Elaine Hopkins
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