03/12/2014
Matt Dietrich Executive editor
Reboot Illinois
The Yes for Independent Maps coalition this week filed a financial statement that reads like a who’s who of Illinois business and political players who have used their checkbooks to support the biggest reform that exists in Illinois government.
Topping the list is former U.S. Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson, who donated $100,000 to the cause of taking from Illinois party leaders the privilege of drawing friendly districts for their members every 10 years.
The latest report, filed Tuesday, logs $638,500 for the week of March 4-11. It brings the total raised by Yes for Independent Maps to $1.2 million since Jan. 1.
Perhaps most remarkable about the reports, in addition to the amounts, is the diversity of donors on the list. It’s a mix of well known political names from both parties and numerous business leaders of various political persuasions. There are many other prominent people who have signed on to the effort to take politics out of the legislative map-drawing process but whose names have not shown up in donation reports. That list includes Playboy CEO Christie Hefner and former Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias.
Five of the six candidates for governor also support the effort.
“This report, and our work to date, shows that we will collect the signatures necessary to get this issue before the voters in November,” said Michael Kolenc, director of Yes for Independent Maps. “Democrats and Republicans both donated strongly to this campaign because they understand that the system is broke and it requires a fix that is independent, transparent and fair.”
Yes for Independent Maps need to collect at least 300,000 signatures of registered voters by May 4 to get a proposed amendment to the Illinois constitution onto the Nov. 4 ballot. The amendment proposes creating a politically neutral system of re-drawing legislative district maps after each census. Currently, the political parties fight every 10 years over the right to draw the map. In 1980 and 1990, the fight over which party would control the map was decided by a name pulled from a hat (literally).
Even if Yes for Independent Maps gets the required number of signatures, it will almost certainly face legal challenges to its proposed amendment from supporters of the status quo. To find out how you can help, click here.
Other prominent donors include real estate mogul Sam Zell, Chicago Cubs owner Tom Ricketts and J.B. Pritzker ($50,000 each); former Lt. Gov. Corrine Wood and Tom Pritzker ($25,000 each), and best-selling author Scott Turow ($1,000). Earlier reports had included a $25,000 donation from former U.S. Senate candidate Blair Hull and CEO and horse racing executive Craig Duchossois.
Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel thinks we need to reform the current redistricting system.
And so do some GOP political candidates.
Even Jon Stewart and the Daily Show have noticed Illinois’ strange way of drawing maps.
Make a difference in Illinois today by signing the Yes for Independent Maps petition.
Matthew Dietrich is Reboot’s executive editor. An award-winning journalist, Dietrich is the former editorial page editor of the State Journal Register in Springfield. He believes in holding our politicians accountable. Read Dietrich’s take on the leadership vacuum that sent Illinois sinking. You can find Reboot on Facebook at and on Twitter @rebootillinois.