Peoria- State Senator Chuck Weaver (R-Peoria) released the following statement regarding the Illinois Supreme Court’s decision to block a citizen-driven redistricting reform referendum from the November ballot:
“We have a state constitution to both establish how the state government is supposed to work for the residents of Illinois, as well as to prevent elected officials from abusing the people they are supposed to serve. This ruling has taken power away from the people and put it into the hands of the entrenched political powers. While the constitution (as interpreted in this ruling) may make it difficult for citizens to launch a redistricting referendum on their own, the General Assembly has the ability to right this wrong and put a similar, bipartisan redistricting referendum on the ballot for the next election. I am calling on my colleagues from both parties to immediately take up bipartisan redistricting reform legislation so that the people of Illinois can have the ability to decide this question for themselves.”