Illinois Home Speaker Chris Welch didn’t sound all that enthused about passing any new ethics reforms throughout an interview final week.
Within the wake of former Home Speaker Michael Madigan’s conviction on 10 felony counts earlier this month, I requested Speaker Welch if he believed Madigan’s conviction referred to as out for brand new reform legal guidelines.
“I did not get an opportunity to take heed to what each juror who has spoken mentioned, however they seemed on the proof in that case, they usually weighed the proof in that case. And I believe I heard one juror say that he did not have something unfavorable to say about Springfield per se. However after they seemed on the proof in that case, they got here to the decision that they got here to,” Welch mentioned.
That doesn’t sound like he believes there’s a clarion name for change.
“Are there issues that we will do higher in Springfield?” Welch requested rhetorically. “Most likely are some issues that we will do higher. I believe we have to discuss to our members and discover out what they assume. I believe we have to discuss to advocates and listen to what advocates assume.”
Welch mentioned he was “proud” that no person in his caucus had been accused of corruption since he took over. “We addressed ethics in my first yr as Speaker. There’s plenty of issues that we’ve carried out that I believe actually modified the surroundings and have helped us get to the purpose that we’re at immediately.”
Madigan mentioned a lot the identical factor about his caucus after Rod Blagojevich was impeached and eliminated. It didn’t work out so effectively. Not saying Welch is an issue, however one by no means is aware of what particular person caucus members are as much as.
Gov. JB Pritzker was clearly offended at Speaker Welch in the course of the January lame duck legislative session when the governor’s try and cross a invoice to manage intoxicating hemp blew up in his face and Welch refused to name the invoice, claiming that the governor didn’t have 60 Democratic votes. Pritzker insisted on the time that he did have the votes and in addition demanded apologies from Home Democrats who yelled insults at members of his administration throughout a personal caucus assembly. Pritzker has since backed off. I requested Welch if issues had been patched up between them and the way that occurred.
“Initially, there was nothing to patch up,” Welch declared. “The governor was doing his job; I did my job. The governor and I discuss on a regular basis. We talked earlier than lame duck. We have talked since lame duck. The governor is a vital accomplice of mine. We have gotten large issues carried out within the state of Illinois by working collectively. Infrequently we might disagree on one thing, however know this, my place is at all times going to be based mostly on what my caucus’s place is, and I make that clear with the governor or whoever I am speaking to.”
In different phrases, Welch is gonna stand together with his caucus towards any outsider and folks, together with the governor, want to just accept it.
Earlier this month, the Home moved three resolutions to the ground that sharply criticized President Donald Trump. The Republicans finally stormed off the ground in response. My affiliate, Isabel Miller, requested Welch if he may be bringing extra such resolutions up for a vote.
“I do not need to speak about our technique for governing the chamber in the course of the 104th,” Welch mentioned. “However let me say this: I believe that this can be very necessary that we give our members house to vocalize what this administration’s actions are doing to the folks of this state and to the folks round this nation. I believe the President’s actions, his administration’s actions, are straight impacting the folks we serve. And we’ll see as we work to assemble a price range that the administration’s actions are straight impacting our capability to run a accountable state. And so we won’t inform you what Donald Trump’s going to do, however we’re additionally not going to sit down silently whereas he unilaterally pushes insurance policies that harm the those that we signify. And if we’ve to go to the ground and shine a light-weight on these issues, we’ll, as a result of this isn’t a time to be silent.”
Requested if the debates had been efficient, Welch mentioned, “I believe that they’ve been extraordinarily efficient. I believe if you happen to discuss to our members and what they’re listening to from their constituents again house, significantly the members who really spoke on the ground, they may inform you what they’re listening to from their constituents again house.”
