By David Stanczak

Amending the Illinois Constitution to adopt the Independent Map Amendment isn’t easy.  It’s not supposed to be.  Even if you get over half a million signatures on a petition to put it on the ballot, the State Board of Elections has to approve the signatures, the courts have to reject any legal challenges to the proposition, and once the matter is on the ballot, at least 60% of those voting on the measure must approve it.

While an amendment ultimately depends on its supporters to petition for it and then to vote for it, the process also depends on elected or appointed officials for it to work.  The State Board of Elections did its part by certifying the proposition for the November 8 ballot. In the meantime, a ruling on a legal challenge to the proposition is due from Cook County Circuit Judge Diane Larsen by tomorrow.  I confess to knowing nothing about Judge Larsen’s legal ability or her track record as a judge.  However, several facts give cause for concern to anyone supporting the Independent Map Amendment.  Judge Larsen is a sitting Cook County judge.  She is, therefore, a Democrat.  The Democratic Party, being the party with veto-proof majorities in both houses of the General Assembly, has the most to lose from the adoption of the IMA, witness the fact that it is a Democratic Party official who filed the lawsuit now before Judge Larsen seeking to keep the proposition off the ballot.  Judge Larsen will need party support (or at least non-opposition) when she comes up for a retention vote this November.  Ruling in favor of the Amendment is not in her political best interest no matter how compelling the case for it may be.  This is particularly true when she knows that the case will ultimately be decided by the Illinois Supreme Court, not her.

Many years ago, John F. Kennedy wrote a book entitled Profiles in Courage about public officials who did what their consciences told them to do even whendoing so meant political suicide.

There is massive popular support for the Independent Map Amendment, which will restore to the voters a meaningful ability to vote out politicians who don’t act in the people’s interest.  Without it, government of the politicians, by the politicians, and for the politicians will remain alive and well in Madiganistan. We need another profile in courage.