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)
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January 21, 2021 at 09:13PM
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.
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News,Region: Peoria,City: Peoria,Region: Central
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January 21, 2021 at 11:28AM
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
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
State Rep. Mike Halpin, D-Rock Island, speaks with the Dispatch/Argus editorial board Monday, Oct. 1, 2018, in East Moline.
House Speaker Michael Madigan is pictured in November 2019 during last year’s fall veto session. A special investigative committee of the General Assembly is awaiting further guidance from federal prosecutors in regards to the probe into an alleged bribery scheme involving Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and Commonwealth Edison.
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.
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.”
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January 12, 2021 at 05:22PM
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.
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December 31, 2020 at 03:19PM
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
Looking ahead to the 102nd General Assembly, state Rep. Dan Didech, (D-Buffalo Grove) is encouraging constituents to submit their ideas for legislation that could help address local issues.
“Many of the best ideas for legislation come from the community, and Springfield needs fresh ideas now more than ever,” Didech said. “This past year has brought unprecedented and new challenges for the people of Illinois due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so I want to hear directly from our community on how state government can be more effective for them as we work to rebuild.”
Didech serves as state representative for the 59th House District, which includes all or parts of Buffalo Grove, Gurnee, Lincolnshire, Mundelein, Northbrook, Park City, Vernon Hills, Waukegan and Wheeling.
Throughout the year, Didech traditionally spends time going door-to-door and holding events to hear directly from constituents on the issues they care about. However, since the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has greatly reduced opportunities for safe in-person conversations, Didech is encouraging neighbors to share their thoughts electronically or over the phone.
“The pandemic has changed so much for so many, but what remains is my dedication to our community and my promise that I’ll always prioritize the needs of our families,” Didech said.
“The need for greater access to affordable health care, property tax relief, and a more transparent government are among my top priorities for the upcoming legislative session.”
Residents of Didech’s district are invited to email him at info@repdidech.com with ideas, comments, questions, thoughts, or concerns.
Didech can also be reached via Facebook at www.Facebook.com/RepDidech or by calling his district office at (847) 478-9909.
Feeds,Region: DuPage,Local,Region: Suburbs
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December 28, 2020 at 01:03PM
State representative Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora and Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, will be partners with The Kane Senior Council and the Aurora Police Department to provide free frozen meals to seniors Monday, Dec. 7 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Aurora Police Department’s station located at 1200 E. Indian Road in Aurora.
“I am excited to be working with other community leaders to be able to bring this service for a third time to members in our community,” said Hernandez. “This pandemic has been devastating for many senior residents and their families, so I am grateful for the Wheels on Meals program and the work that the Kane Senior Council does to assist our senior community.”
Kane County residents who are age 60 or older are eligible to receive five frozen meals. Participants are required to register in advance and can do so by calling Hernandez’s office at 630-270-1848 or E-mail her at [email protected].
Safety precautions will be in place, and attendees will be asked to remain in their cars. For more information, please contact Hernandez’s office at 630-270-1848.
— Office of State Rep. Barbara Hernandez
via The Voice
December 5, 2020 at 09:06AM
Working for Illinois Caucus 