Republicans in the State Senate cried foul early Wednesday morning when an updated criminal reform bill totaling 750 pages hit their desks at 3:00 A.M. and they began debating it an hour later.
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Michael J. Madigan watched silently Wednesday afternoon in Springfield as Rep. Chris Welch (D-Hillside) was sworn in as Illinois’ 70th Speaker of the House and the first African American to lead the chamber.
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House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) probably has a little bit of a sour taste in his mouth after spending the past six-plus years constantly fighting with then-Speaker Michael Madigan.
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At the end of a lame duck session with an unprecedented focus on racial equity, the Illinois House of Representatives has chosen a Black man to lead the chamber for the first time in the state’s history.
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Pending a last-minute implosion, House Democrats are expected to elect Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch (D-Hillside) as the first Black Speaker of the House in the state’s 202-year history.
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With some 16 hours remaining before the new General Assembly votes on a new Speaker of the House, Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch is on the verge of making history.
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After falling short of the necessary votes to retain his position Sunday night, embattled House Speaker Michael Madigan suspended his campaign re-election to the position. Democrats from across the state were shocked by Madigan’s announcement.
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Three members of the House Black Caucus told us late last night that Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch (D-Hillside) was, indeed, the choice of the group to run for Speaker and has unanimous support among the 22 members of the group.
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Governor JB Pritzker announced Monday Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs Director Linda Chapa LaVia would resign following fallout from a COVID-19 outbreak that killed more than a quarter of residents at the state-run LaSalle Veterans’ Home.
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After failing to reach the 60 votes he needs to retain the Speaker’s gavel in a private Democratic caucus Sunday night, embattled House Speaker Michael Madigan announced Monday morning he was “suspending” his campaign for Speaker, but not dropping out.
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A controversial criminal justice bill pushed by the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus could get a vote in the Senate as early as Monday.
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The Director of the Illinois Department of Revenue is offering clarity on Governor JB Pritzker’s proposed tax changes on business that were unveiled Friday with little explanation.
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House Democrats are on the record. 51 support House Speaker Michael Madigan for another term. 22 support someone else.
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Nobody lives forever. But, 78-year-old House Speaker Michael Madigan, facing three challengers from inside his caucus, declined to tell his members Friday how long he planned to remain in office.
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Governor JB Pritzker said Friday he’s proposing decoupling the state from federal CARES Act business tax credits and new state programs to help spur job creation and investment.
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African American lawmakers are praising a legislative package to reform policing in the state while police unions and some Republicans are critical of the bill, calling the battle to defeat the legislation “a fight to save law enforcement .”
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A Chicago public radio station posted a story earlier this week indicating a large list of Republicans who were seemingly positioned to run for Governor.
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House Speaker Michael Madigan’s best path to re-election victory may be a political siege. In war, that was isolating Vicksburg to use up its artillery and food in an effort to make the rebels capitulate. Madigan may do it with political capital.
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Congresswoman Mary Miller (R-Oakland) could have had a better third day on the job.
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Governor JB Pritzker’s office says it filed an emergency rule with the state to extend the state’s mask mandate until June 3.
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