By AP
Springfield, IL – Illinois Senate Democrats want to take the luck of the draw out of legislative and congressional district lines drawn every 10 years. They proposed a plan Thursday that would allow a "special master" appointed by two Supreme Court justices of different political parties to draw a map in case of gridlock. The three maps since the 1970 Constitution have been drafted by the political party whose name was drawn from a hat. The 2010 Census will show population shifts that require new district lines. Chicago Democratic Sen. Kwame Raoul (KWAH'-may RAW'-ool) says his committee's plan would allow the Legislature first crack at map-drawing. A Republican plan says sitting lawmakers should not be involved at all. Voters have to approve any proposal to change the Constitution this fall.