Carbondale Reporter

Illinois State Sen. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) recently denounced Gov. J. B. Pritzker for extending the 30-day emergency declaration and voiced her support for the GOP's proposed People's Independent Maps Act during an interview with Newsradio WJPF.

Pritzker recently issued executive order 2021-06, which extends the state's COVID-19 restrictions and mandates until May 1. Bryant condemned the governor for issuing the order without seeking input from the state's Legislature to influence his decision.

"It appears that the governor just will not release the hold that he has on the people of this state," Bryant said. "Again, he has not invited the Legislature to assist him in these decisions that he's making."

While Bryant was critical of the governor not working with the Legislature, she promoted Republican's efforts to reshape the redistricting process the state is undergoing during the interview with WJPF. 

The GOP-backed People's Independent Maps Act would require the state Supreme Court to appoint 16 citizens to an independent redistricting commission. The commission would independently create new legislative maps. The move would nullify the Democrats' majority in the House and Senate regarding creating the new legislative maps. 

The court-appointed members would be split evenly in political affiliation with two independents representing the state's racial, ethnic and gender demographics. The proposal would ban elected leaders, state employees and lobbyists from serving as a commissioner. 

The Republican proposal, if approved, would only apply to the 2021 redistricting. Democrats have the majority in the House and Senate.