After the 1990 general election, the state of Illinois found itself in a predicament. Democrats controlled the House and Senate in Springfield, while Republican Jim Edgar occupied the governor’s mansion. With legislative redistricting the following year, the Democrats would be unable to send a new map that the governor wouldn’t veto.
It was at this point that a nine-person Legislative Redistricting Commission would be established, with four Democrats and four Republicans. The final seat was determined by a coin flip that the GOP won.
Many Republicans salivated at the opportunity to redraw the map, especially the 9th congressional district. Represented by 25-term Democratic Congressman Sidney Yates, the district ran along Chicago’s affluent lakefront, including the suburbs of Evanston and Skokie. The seat was regarded as impenetrable by the Republicans. But to the dismay of the GOP, ousting Yates was thwarted by Republican Senate Minority Leader James “Pate” Philip.
The veteran politician believed the 9th district must always be winnable by a member of the Jewish community due to its large Jewish constituency. Yates served three more terms.
Such an act of fairness today in Illinois today would get you institutionalized. With Democrat supermajorities in the legislature and JB Pritzker serving as governor, Illinois Democrats pass with ease all the fee increases and tax hikes they can conjure up. Power is their drug.
When Texas House Democrats fled the Lone Star State to prevent Republicans from having quorum to vote on a measure that would expand the GOP congressional majority, 40 representatives came to Illinois to make their stand against what they perceive as a political power grab by manipulating legislative districts, known as gerrymandering.
That’s right, to combat and expose what they deem is abuse of power, political corruption and an effort to wrest more control, they chose the state that wrote the playbook on how to accomplish all three.
Illinois is a state where a governor going to prison is considered a right of passage. And corruption is contagious.
Texas politics has focused on Illinois. Pritzker, who has presidential ambitions, is not camera-shy and is taking full advantage of this profile-raising opportunity.
Publicly attacking President Trump at every opportunity, Pritzker’s sound bites are regularly aired on cable news programs. Recently appearing on “The Late Show” with progressive darling Stephen Colbert, Pritzker sanctimoniously touted his disingenuous message, “whatever it takes to preserve democracy.”
But even Colbert couldn’t help but allude to Pritzker’s hypocrisy, pointing out “some crazy districts in Illinois.” Pritzker jokingly deflected, “We handed it over to a kindergarten class and let them decide.”
However, truer words have never been spoken by Colbert. Illinois can easily be the illustration in the dictionary next to the definition of “gerrymandering.”
And that gives a government body the chutzpah to pass legislation levying $1.50 tax on every online purchase delivered except for groceries and pharmaceuticals. A new fee that directly hurts the poor and middle class. But when you don’t fear losing your job, it’s easy to pass laws that were conjured up during a moment of insanity.
A study conducted this year by the Tax Foundation revealed that Illinois has the highest property taxes in the country. According to Consumer Affairs, Illinois is second only to California when it comes to gas taxes.
The big joke told in Illinois is that Pritzker’s photo hangs in the corporate offices of U-Haul truck rental as their employee of the year. Every year since 2014, Illinois has seen its population decline. Moving businesses love Illinois Democrats and their one-party rule.
The population decline has resulted in Illinois losing three congressional seats since 2000. They are expected to lose another two by 2030. The irony is that Texas has benefited from Illinois’ decline as the Lone Star State has experienced a population increase of more than 2 million people since 2020. This has translated into six additional congressional seats since 2000.
Why Texas Democrats chose to flee to the nation’s best example of bad government is mindboggling. Must be the deep-dish pizza! This decision may reinforce Republican redistricting efforts in the public eye, considering the poor judgment of Texas Democrats.
What Illinois Democrats can teach the American political establishment is how to protect their own. One-party rule presents a special power few politicians ever experience. And if you’re lucky enough to be serving, come redistricting time, you’ll have ironclad job security through the decade.
And in politics, it’s all about staying in power … “whatever it takes.”
Miller is a Chicago-based media and political consultant.
