Davidsmeyer to serve as assistant Republican leader lmtonline.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from lmtonline.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Rich Hein, Pat Nabong/Sun-Times files
House Republicans on Wednesday urged Gov. J.B. Pritzker to veto a sweeping criminal justice bill passed by the Legislature earlier this month that they say will create “major public safety issues.”
House Republican Leader Jim Durkin said the state must “thoroughly and carefully address police reform and criminal justice reform. It is the right thing to do.”
“I believe no person should have to live in fear of their government, and we must address those issues,” the Western Springs Republican said in a Zoom news conference Wednesday. “House Bill 3653 doesn’t do it. In short, it is a confusing, inoperable and contradictory attempt to reform policing and the criminal justice system.
State representatives reflect on electing Welch, passing Black Caucus reform plans wrex.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from wrex.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The future starts now for Welch, a savvy politician whose rapid ascendance through the party ranks was no accident, but rather the result of shrewd relationship building. A majority of Illinois voters have wanted a change from Madigan’s leadership. Now they finally get their chance.
Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch succeeds Mike Madigan as Illinois House speaker
WLS
Share:
Welch was elected Speaker when the 102nd General Assembly convened at noon Wednesday.
Welch is the first Black speaker, and takes over for Mike Madigan who has served in that role for all but two years, since 1983. As the speaker of this chamber, that s an awesome responsibility. I m honored, and my commitment is to do it to the best of my ability, Welch said.
JUST IN: State Rep Chris Welch will be the next House Speaker replacing Mike Madigan. @ABC7Chicago Craig Wall ABC 7 (@craigrwall) January 13, 2021
BREAKING: Welch secured 69 votes to lock up the Speaker position. Craig Wall ABC 7 (@craigrwall) January 13, 2021