Illinois congressional map headed to the governor’s desk

Posted on October 29, 2021
HB 1291 has passed the Senate, 41-18, and the House, 71-43, and awaits the governor’s action. (Twitter/Mike Miletich)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – The new congressional map is headed to the governor’s desk. Highlights, if you will, include sprawling, strangely shaped districts, potential primaries, and hard feelings.

“The people will get the type of government that we have designed for them,” said State Rep. Ryan Spain (R-Peoria) late Tuesday. “A government that is based on gridlock, acrimony, non-cooperation, and, for the state of Illinois, non-success,”

It brings to mind H.L. Mencken’s quote about the people getting the government they deserve, and getting it good and hard.

The map, out Thursday night, includes three pairs of incumbents who could square off in next summer’s primary: Democrats Marie Newman (D-La Grange) and Sean Casten (D-Downers Grove); Republicans Darin LaHood (R-Dunlap) and Adam Kinzinger (R-Channahon); and Republicans Mary Miller (R-Oakland) and Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro).

HB 1291 has passed the Senate, 41-18, and the House, 71-43, and awaits the governor’s action.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…