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Hernandez Elected Vice Chair of Illinois House Democratic Women’s Caucus

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AURORA, Ill. – After being elected as the vice chair of the Illinois House Democratic Women’s Caucus, state Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, released the following statement:

“I am honored and excited to have been elected by my colleagues as Vice Chair of the House Democratic Women’s Caucus. The last year has brought unprecedented challenges to us all, but this new General Assembly is an opportunity to continue our work to rebuild Illinois and put our state on the path toward recovery and growth. While we must prioritize COVID-19 relief first and foremost, we must also continue to make progress in our fight for gender equality and lift up women across Illinois.

“As a Latina, I know firsthand that the issues women face are not universal, and that women of color often experience more severe disparities in health care, education, employment and more. It is critical that our advocacy and our policies address the needs of all women, especially Black, Latinx, LGBTQ+, disabled and young women. I look forward to working with my colleagues to continue fighting for equality and ensure that every woman’s voice can be heard.”

via Illinois House Democratic Caucus

February 1, 2021 at 08:56PM

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Metro East lawmakers ask Pritzker to lift restrictions

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  • Five state lawmakers, all Democrats, are calling on Gov. J.B. Pritzker to loosen COVID-19 restrictions in the region. The area is the last to prohibit indoor dining under the state’s COVID-19 regulations.

    Five state lawmakers, all Democrats, are calling on Gov. J.B. Pritzker to loosen COVID-19 restrictions in the region. The area is the last to prohibit indoor dining under the state’s COVID-19 regulations.

    Photo: File Photo

Five state lawmakers, all Democrats, are calling on Gov. J.B. Pritzker to loosen COVID-19 restrictions in the region. The area is the last to prohibit indoor dining under the state’s COVID-19 regulations.

Five state lawmakers, all Democrats, are calling on Gov. J.B. Pritzker to loosen COVID-19 restrictions in the region. The area is the last to prohibit indoor dining under the state’s COVID-19 regulations.

Photo: File Photo

Metro East lawmakers ask Pritzker to lift restrictions

GLEN CARBON — Five lawmakers are asking Gov. J.B. Pritzker to move the Metro East to the next level of the Restore Illinois COVID-19 plan.

Currently, only Region 4, containing Madison County and six other counties, is not allowed to offer indoor dining at bars and restaurants.

On Thursday, state Sens. Rachelle Crowe, D-Glen Carbon, and Christopher Belt, D-Centreville, were joined by state Reps. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville; Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea; and LaToya Greenwood, D-East St. Louis, in delivering a letter to Pritzker urging him to move the Metro East to the next tier which would allow restaurants and bars to reopen for indoor dining at a limited capacity and school sports practices to resume.

“After months of uncertainty, financial distress and the devastating loss of many lives, a vaccine for COVID-19 provides some light at the end of the tunnel,” they said in a released statement. “We have been able to maintain a declining number of cases of COVID-19, however, our region remains the only in the state of Illinois to not move forward to Tier 1 mitigation efforts.

“As of today, our region has met two out of the three required criteria to move forward a tier – including both a lower positivity rate of COVID-19 and hospitalizations,” they said. “However, our region remains to be held back due to the number of available ICU beds – despite that number not being truly reflective of the actual situation for our region.

The lawmakers said that, as a border region in one of the nation’s largest metropolitan areas, residents use hospitals and healthcare providers on both sides of the river, particularly in St. Louis. There are many more hospital beds available regionally than reflected in the count of beds when limited to just Illinois, they said.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our local economy and employ our family, friends and neighbors,” the Democratic lawmakers wrote to Pritzker, who also is a Democrat. “It is unfair to business owners, employees and local residents to remain in a tier of mitigation efforts based on a number that does not accurately show the whole picture of our communities and the availability of healthcare resources that exist regionally.”

Feeds,News,Metro East,City: St. Louis, MO

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January 28, 2021 at 08:06PM

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Column: Stephanie Kifowit stuck her neck out against Michael Madigan. She has no regrets. – Chicago Tribune

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State Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, said she has no regrets about taking on Michael Madigan for speaker of the Illinois House. In the end, Rep. Chris Welch of Hillside was named the new speaker of the House in Springfield. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)

Feeds,News,State,Politics

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January 21, 2021 at 09:13PM

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Jehan Gordon-Booth Named New House Speaker Pro Tempore

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State Representative Jehan Gordon-Booth is the new Speaker Pro Tempore of the Illinois House.

The Peoria Democrat is the highest-ranking member of the Illinois House from outside the Chicago area. She previously served as Deputy Majority Leader and Assistant Majority Leader.

“With the elevation of Chris Welch to Speaker of the House and Kamala Harris as Vice President, we are at a historic moment in our state and our nation,” Gordon-Booth said in a prepared statement. “By working cooperatively across levels of government and across the diverse communities of Illinois, we can not only recover from the COVID-19 pandemic but build back a stronger state that is more equal and more just.”

Gordon-Booth said she will work to ensure Peoria gets its fair share of COVID-19 relief, and funds for infrastructure, schools, and job creation.

We’re living in unprecedented times when information changes by the minute. WCBU will continue to be here for you, keeping you up-to-date with the live, local and trusted news you need. Help ensure WCBU can continue with its in-depth and comprehensive COVID-19 coverage as the situation evolves by making a contribution.

News,Region: Peoria,City: Peoria,Region: Central

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January 21, 2021 at 11:28AM

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State Rep Sue Scherer Comments On New General Assembly; Plans For 2021

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State Representative Sue Scherer says that she is looking forward to working hard for the new assembly. Representative Scherer says that she remains committed to ensuring that the state’s response to COVID-19 protects vulnerable residents while giving relief to families and small businesses that have been hit hard by the pandemic.

 

Scherer released a press release saying, “I will continue my fight to ensure that all families in our district have equitable opportunities for quality education, good-paying jobs, and quality healthcare. No matter where you come from, or what you look like, families in our community deserve the opportunity to thrive and I will continue to put working families in Central Illinois first.”

 

Scherer is confident that the State will be able to work through fiscal problems caused by the pandemic and is encouraged to work not as democrats or republicans, but as Illinoisans. “It has been my greatest honor to serve our community and I look forward to continuing my work fighting for central-Illinois families.”

 

For more information and to reach out to Representative Scherer, call 217-877-9636.

Region: Pana,Feeds,City: Taylorville,Local,Region: Central

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January 19, 2021 at 07:10AM

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Yednock Explains Non-Committal Speaker Of The House Vote

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Why did State Representative Lance Yednock vote “present” when it came to naming a replacement for Michael Madigan as speaker of the House? The Democrat is giving his reasons to WLPO News.

The second-term Yednock didn’t join 70 others in the House in voting for Emanuel Chris Welch to be the new speaker. He says the process was too fast with many candidates changing by the day. Yednock says Welch was one of the last candidates to join the process and he never had a chance for a personal meeting to learn his views. With that in mind Yednock says he wasn’t comfortable voting on a new speaker without more time to choose.

The Democrat from Ottawa does say he supports Welch and is hoping to hear more from him in the near future.

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January 14, 2021 at 05:19PM

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Illinois Rep. Halpin will not vote for Madigan as House speaker

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State Rep. Mike Halpin, D-Rock Island, said Tuesday that he will not support Democrat Mike Madigan as speaker of the House when lawmakers vote Wednesday for a new majority leader. 

“I don’t intend to vote for him as speaker tomorrow,” Halpin said Tuesday. “We still have a couple candidates looking for our support. We’ll caucus today as House Democrats. I look forward to supporting a candidate that will support downstate interests and make sure they understand the importance of a place like the Quad-Cities.”

Madigan, the longest-serving speaker in the country, suspended his campaign for speaker Monday. Distrust has grown in Madigan after he came under investigation in a federal bribery scheme involving Commonwealth Edison, the state’s largest utility company. ComEd admitted in July to seeking to influence the speaker in passing legislation that would favor the company in exchange for jobs for Madigan’s allies. Madigan has not been charged and has denied any wrongdoing. 

In November, Gov. J.B. Pritzker and U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin called for Madigan to step down. 

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When asked if there was a specific reason why he would not be voting for Madigan as speaker, Halpin said, “It’s a combination of factors. I just want to make sure we can govern in a way that helps communities like Rock Island and Moline.” 

Region: Northern,City: Quad Cities,Region: QC,Local

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January 12, 2021 at 05:22PM

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State Rep. Lance Yednock 30 Dec 2020

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State Rep. Lance Yednock 30 Dec 2020

State Rep. Lance Yednock 30 Dec 2020

Illinois State Representative Lance Yednock (D-76) of Ottawa talks about the LaSalle Veterans Home, the state legislature’s work this year, what’s coming in 2021, and more.

 

Region: Northern,Feeds,News,Region: La Salle

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December 31, 2020 at 03:19PM

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Illinois state representatives await return date to state capitol amid budget negotiations

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Governor J.B. Pritzker has authorized more than $700M in budget cuts, including furloughs for some state employees.

Illinois State Representative Tony McCombie is starting off her week donating blood, and wondering when she and other lawmakers might return to Springfield. 

"There’s a lot of things in play right now," State Rep. McCombie says. "We still don’t have a House schedule. Typically, we go back on January 4th and we haven’t heard that yet."

While the State Senate will be in session next week, a return date for the House hasn’t been set. 

"One cannot do anything without the other of course," State Representative Dan Swanson says. "Legislation put together in the Senate must pass the House, and legislation put together in the House must pass the Senate, so it would make senses to be there together."

State Rep. Swanson hopes to return to Springfield at the start of the new year as well, so both the House and Senate can be a part of state budget negotiations. 

"Last May when the budget was passed, we weren’t part of those discussions," State Rep. Swanson says. "We didn’t put any votes on it. Each year we draft our budget, but each year it’s turned aside." 

"For us to spend hours and hours to draft a budget not utilized for the state of Illinois would be a moot point," State Rep. McCombie says. 

Governor J.B. Pritzker has already authorized $700 Million in budget cuts to address a nearly $4 Million budget shortfall. Part of the cuts include furloughing some state employees.

"I don’t think that’s appropriate. (Government employees are) essential," State Rep. McCombie says. "To pick and choose who is and who isn’t is not fair for families."

"Furloughing employees may not be the solution if those services are needed, and many are needed," State Rep. Swanson says.  

While State Rep. Mike Halpin says he’s glad that the governor proposed budget cuts, he also expressed some concerns with the governor’s planned furloughs. 

"Although cuts are essential, I worry that targeting state employees, when we are already at historically low headcount, will further interfere with the State’s ability to provide services Illinoisans need," Halpin says. "For years, state employees have been asked to do more with less. State employees have shared in the sacrifice over the past decade, even as we refuse to ask our wealthiest Illinoisans to do so. These are good, middle-class jobs, and furloughs or layoffs will only further widen the gap between rich and poor."

via wqad.com

December 28, 2020 at 07:09PM

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