Redistricting vote bumped to tomorrow

Illinois House members say they will not vote on the Democrats' redistricting plan until tomorrow.

House Speaker Michael Madigan and Chicago Democratic Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie had said yesterday that the constitutional amendment would be called for a vote today. But legislators left the Statehouse this evening without considering the measure. Democrat Sen. Kwame Raoul, the Senate sponsor of the plan, said it was bumped to tomorrow because some Democrats were not in Springfield today to cast their votes.

"I'm hopeful. I'm hopeful. You never know what's going to happen, even on this side of the aisle," Raoul said. He was on the House floor today lobbying members of his party. "I'm not talking to people about the weather. I'm answering as many questions as I can."

Raoul said he thinks some Republicans may vote for the amendment when they realize the choice is either it or the status quo. However, many Republicans still insist they cannot support a proposal that would allow legislators to draw voting district lines.