Two Area Republican State Legislators Side w/Obama on One Issue

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Published on February 11 2016 3:31 pm
Last Updated on February 11 2016 3:31 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

Two area Republican state legislators agree with President Barack Obama, a Democrat, on at least one issue, gerrymandering.

State Senators Dale Righter and Kyle McCarter say the president was right about the matter. Currently, legislators draw the boundaries. 

Righter said, "the Democrat majority in Illinois has clearly manipulated and drawn the boundaries of legislative districts for their advantage." He acknowledged, though, that "Republicans have before as well." He said, "The people of Illinois are not allowed to choose their elected officials. Instead, elected officials are choosing them. I hope we can count on the Democrat majority in taking the President's advice, and putting it into law."

The president also addressed the issue in his State of the Union address in January, saying one party should not be drawing legislative districts. "Let a bipartisan group do it," Obama said in January.

For his part, McCarter said, "While the president and I don't see eye to eye on all issues, we do agree on the issue of 'gerrymandering'. McCarter said the last map drawn of the 15th Congressional District was amended to include the home of his primary opponent, John Shimkus, in Collinsville. He said the addition resembles a "pigtail."