State Senator Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) released the following statement regarding the Illinois Supreme Court’s decision to block a citizen-driven redistricting reform referendum from the November ballot:

“It is truly disappointing and maddening that the Illinois Supreme Court has made a politically motivated decision to take the voters out of the redistricting debate. It was back in January when Democratic President and former State Senator Barack Obama came to the Illinois Capitol and clearly stated that, ‘American politicians should not pick their voters, voters should pick their politicians.’ Yet Democrat lawyers and political leaders have decided that Illinois voters shouldn’t be allowed to cast their own vote on the idea. It’s clear that our state’s Supreme Court has become just another political body, choosing to protect their own power brokers over citizens. I would like to see the issue taken up the federal level to get it above our broken state political system. And in the meantime I urge my fellow Senators and Representatives to take up this question in Springfield so we can finally put it on the ballot for the voters to decide during the next election.”