Springfield, Ill. – Lawmakers concluded the final week of the Fall Veto Session, acting on a number of important measures. However, State Senator Dale Righter (R-Mattoon) said a campaign finance law change that was the most anticipated legislation to be considered during the Veto Session ultimately fell short of its goals.

Republican legislators joined editorial boards across the state in criticizing Senate Bill 1466, which they say doesn’t go far enough. Although the legislation would impose Illinois’ first-ever contribution limits on individuals, businesses and special-interest groups, political leaders’ and political leadership committees’ donations would only be limited during primary elections—allowing for unlimited spending during the general election. The bill also removed criminal penalties for some of the most serious violations of the campaign finance and disclosure laws.

Senate Republicans were disappointed with the measure, noting that Illinois has failed to capitalize on a unique opportunity to pass meaningful campaign finance reform. Senator Righter expressed support for the contribution limits included in the bill, as well as more stringent transparency and disclosure measures, but said that without capping contributions limits for legislative leaders during the General Election, the measure will have limited impact.

Click the links below to check out my YouTube page featuring videos from the redistricting press conference Wednesday, October 28. 

Redistricting Press Conference Part 1 

Redistricting Press Conference Part 2

Senator Dale Righter, ranking Republican on the Senate Redistricting Committee. Spoke Wednesday October 28, at a press conference outlining the reforms needed to end partisan gerrymandering in Illinois. Click on the clips below to listen to Senator Righter.

Senator Righter Audio Clip 1: Legislators shouldn't draw districts that they later run for.

Sen. Righter Audio Clip 2: The System must be scrapped.

Sen. Righter Audio Clip 3: Time for action.

Springfield, Ill. - After five public hearings on redistricting reform, it’s time to take action.

“We heard from experts and from ordinary citizens. Witnesses used a variety of terms to describe Illinois’ system of redistricting – ‘arcane’…‘incumbency protection’…‘conflict of interest’…‘corrupt.’ But the one word we never heard was ‘good,’” State Sen. Dale Righter (R-Mattoon), said.  “Through five hearings in every region of the state, no one stepped forward to defend the status quo. There is universal agreement that the system is broken and needs to be replaced.”

Righter, the ranking Republican on the Senate Redistricting Committee, was joined by other members of the Senate Redistricting Committee and by Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) to call for gerrymandering reform.

Righter and Radogno said several key principles emerged from the hearings:

• Politicians should not be in charge of drawing the maps;
• Maps should not be drawn based on where an incumbent legislator lives;
• When the partisan voting history of those who live in a district is used to draw maps it discourages competition and reduces voter choice;
• The process should be open and transparent.

Radogno cautioned that people should not be misled by false reforms that leave the power to draw legislative districts in the hands of politicians.

“If there is a bright line that defines real reform, this is it. There are proposals that suggest that if we simply increase the number of votes needed to pass a map, that will somehow make everything okay. But, you can’t clear out a smoke-filled room by increasing the number of smokers in the room,” Radogno said. “It’s time to let the voters pick their representatives, rather than have the politicians pick their voters.”

“In Peoria, Illinois Reform Commission Chairman Patrick Collins told senators that if they do not want to change the current system, they should have the courage to ‘stand from the mountaintop’ and defend the status quo. Well, I’m standing from the mountaintop to say that the current system cannot be defended and should be abandoned,” Righter said. “I’m challenging all my colleagues to do the same.”

Radogno also issued a warning to those who, by delaying action, wish to defend the status quo.  “Because the redistricting process usually occurs behind closed doors, many politicians mistakenly believe the public doesn’t care or won’t understand. But, the public is tracking on this issue – a recent Paul Simon Institute survey revealed that more than 71 percent of people opposed the current system. Politicians ignore the public at great risk.”