Illinois Sen. Kwame Raoul, D-Chicago, argues redistricting map legislation while on the Senate floor at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield. AP/Seth Perlman
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A House committee has approved a Democratic plan to change the way legislative districts are drawn in Illinois.
But the plan will fail unless it gets at least one Republican vote on the House floor. And Republicans oppose the measure.
The committee approved the plan Tuesday after a touchy hearing.
A witness from the League of Women Voters questioned legislators’ commitment to helping minorities. That drew shouts of outrage from some lawmakers.
Democratic Sen. Kwame Raoul then called the witness a “token.” Both Raoul and League of Women Voters employee Chris Butler are black.
One Republican warned that his party might boycott any redistricting process that gives too much influence to lawmakers.
Copyright 2010 Associated Press.
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