CHICAGO, Jan. 13, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The non-partisan coalition for Illinois legislative maps to be drawn by an independent commission applauded President Obama's support of redistricting reform across the nation, and urged the President to support the reform efforts in his home state.
"The President's words in the State of the Union Address – 'We have to end the practice of drawing our congressional districts so that politicians can pick their voters, and not the other way around.' – hold true for redistricting of the Illinois General Assembly where he once served," said Dennis FitzSimons, Chair of Independent Maps.
"The Independent Map Amendment will end the practice that now allows politicians to pick their voters, and not the other way around," FitzSimons said. "We are heartened by President Obama's commitment to travel the country to advocate redistricting reform, and we urge him to bring that campaign to Illinois where reform is so badly needed."
In his speech, President Obama also stressed that changes in the political process "will only happen when the American people demand it." The full text of the State of the Union Address is available on the White House website here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2016/01/12/remarks-president-barack-obama-–-prepared-delivery-state-union-address
"Voters in Illinois are demanding change in the way the Illinois General Assembly is elected," said Dave Mellet, Campaign Manager of Independent Maps. "Our coalition is diverse and includes many who have supported his past campaigns, as well as some opponents. We don't agree on all policy issues, but we stand together for reform of the system, for elections to be fair, for votes to count and for voices to be heard."
Independent Maps coalition members include AARP-Illinois, the Illinois Farm Bureau, CHANGE Illinois, Common Cause Illinois, Latino Policy Forum, League of Women Voters of Illinois, IVI-IPO, Southsiders Organized for Unity and Liberation, Union League Club of Chicago, and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation. The full list of supporters is available on the Independent Maps website (www.MapAmendment.org) where voters can download a petition and make contributions.
Paid for by Support Independent Maps. A copy of our report filed with the State Board of Elections is (or will be) available on the Board's official website (www.elections.il.gov) or for purchase from the Illinois State Board of Elections, Springfield, Illinois.
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150423/201324LOGO
SOURCE Independent Maps
Share this article