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Expert: Why We Need Redistricting Reform

WSIU

Brian Gaines has watched Illinois politics for 20 years.  The political scientist is with the University of Illinois's Institute for Government and Public Affairs. He says the current system of drawing legislative and congressional maps is bad and he hopes reformers can do something before the next re-map in 2020.

Gaines says there is too little transparency and too few people are involved.  The current map for Illinois' congressional district he says was created to help Democrats.   He says the public is not well served by maps that engineer outcomes. 

"Whether rigged to help incumbents or to help one major party and harm the other, unfair maps mar democracy", he writes in a recent essay.

Gaines also writes that a "new, better process should remain a top priority for anyone serious about improving the state's sour political culture".

Among his suggestions is a map created by a non-partisan independent commission.

Bill is a former general manager, economy reporter, Harvest correspondent and Statehouse Bureau Chief for NPR Illinois. He has won several awards including the Associated Press Best Investigative Reporter.
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