Rep. Sandack Responds to President Barack Obama's Address to the Illinois General Assembly

Published February 10, 2016 4:55 pm ET.

Today, before a joint session of the Illinois House and Senate, lawmakers heard from President Obama, who presented an hour-long speech about bipartisanship, compromise, and finding areas where legislators from opposing political parties can agree. In response to the President’s remarks, State Representative Ron Sandack (R-Downers Grove) has issued the following statement.

“The President is a skilled public speaker, and today we heard a heartening message about striving for better politics in Illinois. I agree with the President in that regard. In this age where the political divide seems insurmountable, we have a responsibility to behave respectfully and with the best interests of our constituents in mind. I am ready to do my part, and invite my colleagues from the other side of the aisle to join me for those discussions.”

“I was particularly pleased to hear the President make a plea for a change in the way Illinois draws legislative maps. He was correct when he stated that today’s technology allows parties in power to ‘precision-draw’ constituencies that maximize incumbent protection while grouping minority party voters into as few legislative districts as possible. Fair maps is an issue that an overwhelming majority of Illinoisans favor, and it is a system I have been trying to bring to Illinois for years. I hope everyone in the House chamber today takes his message to heart and decides that maps should be drawn in a way that allows voters to choose their elected officials rather than elected officials choosing their voters.”