Credit Capitol News Illinois
Two new Democratic Senators were sworn in Saturday to fill vacancies in the Illinois General Assembly.
Doris Turner, a former Springfield city councilperson, and Mike Simmons, former policy director for Mayor Rahm Emanuel, are also the two newest members of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus.
The two Democratic appointments to the Senate follow the recent selections of Adriane Johnson, Cristina Pacione-Zayas and Sally Turner to vacancies in the 30th, 20th and 44th Senate Districts, respectively. They’ve replaced retiring senators through appointments from party officials.
Mike Simmons
Simmons fills the vacancy left by former Sen. Heather Steans, who resigned at the end of January from her seat representing the 7th Senate District on Chicago’s north side.
Missouri News Connection
St. Louis labor leaders and good-government groups are coming together to demand U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley s resignation.
At the U.S. Capitol last week, Hawley fist-pumped the mob that shortly after stormed the building, putting members of Congress and Capitol staff at risk and injuring Capitol and D.C. metro police - including one officer who later died. And Hawley led the charge in the Senate to object to the counting of electoral votes, the motivation for the riot.
American Federation of Government Employees Local 2192 President Keena Smith said Missouri s people deserve better, and their senator should be focusing on helping them especially Black, Brown and low-income residents get through this health and economic crisis.
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Just before his Twitter account was disabled last Friday after inspiring the sacking of the U.S. Congress, President Donald Trump boldy declared that his 75 million followers “will have a giant voice long into the future.”
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That notion will soon get vetted here in Orange County – a place with a strong Trump following – as local Democrats and Republicans over the next two Monday nights take up membership votes for their leadership officers. A special election for an open seat on the Orange County board of supervisors is also now underway and ends in March.
By Jim Meadows & Illinois Newsroom
• Jan 8, 2021
Rep. Mary Miller
Illinois Congresswoman Mary Miller says she apologizes for any harm caused by her speech at a Washington DC rally, where she voiced agreement with a quotation of Adolf Hitler. But she said some of her critics were intentionally distorting what she had said.
“I sincerely apologize for any harm my words caused,” the east central Illinois Republican said in her statement, “and regret using a reference to one of the most evil dictators in history to illustrate the dangers that outside influences can have on our youth.”
Miller came under harsh criticism for saying: “Hitler was right on one thing. He said, ‘Whoever has the youth, has the future.’”
Freshman U.S. Representative Mary Miller of Illinois quoted Adolf Hitler in a speech outside the Capitol, comments that drew swift criticism from fellow