So for a while, I’d periodically see someone collecting petition signatures for a proposed term limits amendment to the Illinois constitution. (We don’t have a referendum process for legislation in Illinois, only constitutional amendments.) And I’m not really excited about this proposal — though such a law would, after it begins to affect legislators in eight years after passage, finally take down Michael Madigan, it’s just a sad, sad commentary on our system that Madigan is considered “All-powerful House Leader for Life” otherwise.
But I then came across a mention of another amendment proposal: a proposal for non-partisan non-gerrymandered redistricting: Independent Maps. I even signed up and got some petitions in the mail! — too bad that spring break has just started for the kids (no, no big plans; just the need to keep them out of trouble and entertained while keeping up with my projects).
If you’re from Illinois, have you heard of them? I can’t seem to find any information, from their site, facebook page, or in the news, on how the petition-gathering is going — I suppose it could be bad news (don’t want to discourage volunteers) or good news (don’t want volunteers to be complacent) but this amendment would, in the long run, make a real difference.