Metro East Sun

Republican state Sen. Jason Plummer wants Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Iris Martinez to know she is in the minority when it comes to her acceptance of the system Democrats employed for feedback in the latest map redistricting process. 

Although pushback about the process continues to grow, Plummer argues the numbers of voices being heard on the subject are dwindling, Week.com reported.

“You know the last round of hearings we had were basically boycotted by everyone in the state of Illinois essentially because no one trusts the committee, and they're kind of sick and tired of being fed false information, so I fully appreciate that you might trust the committee but really no one else does,” Plummer said during the Oct. 8 Senate Redistricting Committee hearing on the subject of congressional maps. “So my question would be, not how much would you need but since you've gone through this process in the past what do you think is a reasonable amount of time between when maps are unveiled for the public to see and a vote would take place on the Senate?”

Martinez didn't offer a definite answer, saying instead, "As a former legislator I know how it is to work through this process in the past, and again it's really up to the committee. I know that they’ve gone across the state when it came to meetings, and it’s a process. I have to respect the process and the committee to do its job."

All eyes are now on the redistricting process as Democrats are in the midst of wiping out one of the Republican districts as part of a push to further secure their majority, according to Week.com.

Republicans deride the process as a “dog and pony show,” claiming that Democrats are dedicated to blocking people from participating in the remote setting gatherings and labeling the online mapmaking portal as “pointless” if people are unable to log in.

Republicans are also demanding to know who is drawing the newest maps. Committee Chair Omar Aquino (D-Chicago) calling the process "transparent," says he doesn't know.

State Rep. Steve McClure (R-Springfield) doesn’t see it.

“You have to be able to look at the map that they are working with so that you can critique it and present your own ideas instead of blindly having nothing to review,” McClure told TheWeek.com. “And then they’re gonna drop a map, probably hours before we vote on it or the day before, the night before. It’s just not a transparent process and it’s bad for state government.”