*** UPDATED x1 *** Welch issues warning
Thursday, Sep 9, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Background is here. Speaker Chris Welch’s spokesperson just told me that SB2408 “is the only proposal that we’ll be moving today” on climate/energy. They’re not calling any other bill, including the Senate-passed SB18, which apparently has only 20 HDem votes. A large handful of folks in Welch’s caucus are holding out on SB2408 and trying to change course. Not gonna happen and they’ll clearly wear the jacket if this agreed bill goes down.
Press release…
“I want to first thank Leaders Evans, Gabel and Hoffman for their tireless work and dedication in helping craft a comprehensive energy proposal that prioritizes our climate, equitable job preservation and creation, and meaningful ethics reform,” said House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch. “Senate Bill 2408 is the product of good-faith negotiations that has the support from both environmental and labor groups. With this consensus among stakeholders, it is the only proposal that will advance today. I hope to see the same broad bipartisan support in the House for this historic piece of legislation that puts Illinois on the path to a greener, more sustainable future while also prioritizing a diversified energy sector.
…Adding… Click here for a summary of the changes in the new proposal.
…Adding… Most of the House Democratic opposition is centered around objections by Assistant House Majority Leader Jay Hoffman. But Rep. Kelly Cassidy told her constituents today “I can honestly say I’m still weighing all the components”…
I have never been a fan of providing subsidies to profitable corporations and this remains a key component of this bill, even as it provides a clear pathway to reducing carbon emissions, transitions Illinois to clean power on a defined timeline, makes significant investments in renewable energy development, and provides pathways for equity in the energy sector.
*** UPDATE *** Hearing about an amendment in the works in an attempt to placate the Hoffman crowd.
- Nick - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 11:32 am:
Major test for Welch here.
Here’s to hoping he keeps the House together.
- Ok - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 11:34 am:
I would say that some people who went out on a limb for Prairie State are trying to save a little face, lest they end up in the loser bracket.
- irony is fun - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 11:42 am:
== Major test for Welch here.==
I don’t view this as a test for Welch. If you’ve been following this saga, you know that he was never deeply involved and from the beginning he was transparent that he wouldn’t call a bill unless it was a consensus. He has never said he is for it or against it, only that he wouldn’t string out his caucus members on a vote. Now there’s an agreement and they all have a chance to vote how they see fit. If more than 60 but less than 71 vote for it, then it’s on the folks who didn’t get this done by May 31st.
- Anon221 - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 11:43 am:
Hearing has started.
- Southern Skeptic - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 11:45 am:
“I don’t view this as a test for Welch. If you’ve been following this saga, you know that he was never deeply involved and from the beginning he was transparent that he wouldn’t call a bill unless it was a consensus. He has never said he is for it or against it, only that he wouldn’t string out his caucus members on a vote. Now there’s an agreement and they all have a chance to vote how they see fit. If more than 60 but less than 71 vote for it, then it’s on the folks who didn’t get this done by May 31st.”
Nice spin but that’s not how it works. He has the ball. It’s in his court. He has to herd his cats. That’s what leadership is all about.
- irony is fun - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 11:47 am:
== Nice spin but that’s not how it works. He has the ball. It’s in his court. He has to herd his cats. That’s what leadership is all about. ==
Actually, this is leadership. He’s managing the caucus. That’s his job.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 11:49 am:
=== Nice spin but that’s not how it works. He has the ball. It’s in his court. He has to herd his cats. That’s what leadership is all about. ===
So, in other words, don’t fail like Harmon and punt?
I know, you love me…
- Tony - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 11:50 am:
The Speaker of the House is issuing messages to his caucus via press release? We’re definitely not in Kansas anymore.
- Southern Skeptic - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 11:55 am:
Oh Willy, Willy, Willy. Harmon did his job. They hammered out 99% of the issues and sent it to the House. Ya know, legislating.
- Anon 401 - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 12:00 pm:
== he was never deeply involved ==
I’m not sure that’s a good thing.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 12:10 pm:
Saying my name three times doesn’t take away…
== He has the ball. It’s in his court. He has to herd his cats. That’s what leadership is all about.===
… you describing Harmon punting, and then this idea “it’s all on Welch”… well, yeah, it is… because Harmon… since May… couldn’t be a leader.
Reread your snippet, your projection is showing.
Welch will try to land this. Harmon punted it to him.
- Southern Skeptic - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 12:15 pm:
Willy, you keep avoiding the central point. Harmon and the legislative working group settled 99% of the issues. That’s called being a leader. And you still fail to explain why the labor is a special interest whose opinions should matter less than the enviros. Everyone has said that all three groups needed to agree. Why does labor, the most important supporter of Democratic candidates, matter less?
- Blueman - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 12:29 pm:
*the working group led by the governor’s office settled on 99% of the issues actually.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 12:29 pm:
=== you keep avoiding the central point===
No. Let’s get back to what you seemingly now don’t like;
=== He has the ball. It’s in his court. He has to herd his cats. That’s what leadership is all about.===
Harmon punted. Are you saying what has been worked on has merely been “tweak here, tweak there”?
If they agreed to 99%, and couldn’t get it done, that’s a punt. They couldn’t close.
Since May… had the ball, etc.
=== Why does labor, the most important supporter of Democratic candidates===
You mean the largest monetary donor?
Sounds like you’re saying the largest monetary donor.
If you can point to where I said labors’ opinion means less, please do so.
It’s not a secret it’s labor holding up a deal… and yes, I know, you love me.
- Fav Human - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 1:18 pm:
Someone will be a loser if this goes down. Watching the finger pointing and spin will be truly epic.
- Blue Dog - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 1:28 pm:
Admittedly I am not a big jay Hoffman fan, but he’s not only concerned about jobs at Prarie state, but the entire metro east and the manufacturing facilities dependent on reliable, on demand electric. Kudos.
- Anon221 - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 1:37 pm:
9-6 vote. SB2408 Floor Amendment 2 exits committee to floor of House.
- Southern Skeptic - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 1:53 pm:
“It’s not a secret it’s labor holding up a deal… and yes, I know, you love me.”
Most recently it’s been labor. But it was the enviros just last week. They all have to agree. And it’s an incredibly huge and complicated bill. I can’t think of a bigger one. Ever.
- Medvale School for the Gifted. - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 2:02 pm:
One must wonder why political leaders in this state are so eager to ruin the state’s major competitive advantage: low electricity costs for business. This bill will force up electric costs by reducing electric generation diversity and availability.
Liken it to the Edgar pension ramp. Liken it to the Thompson agreement to increase pensions 3% per year.
Future General Assemblies will be looking back at this bunch with scorn while trying to fix their mess.
Sure. Cut a deal already. But doing nothing would be a better deal.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 2:03 pm:
=== But it was the enviros just last week.===
Why was that? The punted bill wasn’t designed to be passed or signed?
Maybe to appease “the most important supporter of Democratic candidates”?
Its going to be up to Welch, as a leader, to finish what Harmon couldn’t.
- RichieCago - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 2:08 pm:
I think this is all a song & dance to let Byron close that much is obvious from the lack of cooperation and coordination thus far.
At least with Dresden the legislature will be in regular session in November so they won’t be able to hide from it as easy.
- Asteroid of Caution - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 2:28 pm:
Willy, you must be a real joy in group projects.
- SpiDem - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 2:57 pm:
If Hoffman, as a member of leadership, somehow scotches this deal, he should be removed from leadership
Ammons was removed for far less
- Blue Dog - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 3:07 pm:
Hoffman needs to hang tough. Thousands of jobs potentially at stake. Good union jobs I might add.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 3:08 pm:
===group projects===
I dunno in what context that is meant or how it applies…
But if one person tells everyone in the group the project is not done, “but not dead” and hangs on to the project and then decides to give everyone else the project back, seemingly not what can be seen as a finished thing, washes their hands of it as others try to complete the project… unless you’re that “first person” who held it and then punted… how are they a joy?
:)
I usually bring pastry (pie, cannoli, donuts) to projects, so that might be a bonus?
- irony is fun - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 4:11 pm:
== If Hoffman, as a member of leadership, somehow scotches this deal, he should be removed from leadership
Ammons was removed for far less ==
Hoffman is taking a policy position. Aamons used the podium to bully a fellow member that was taking a policy position. These are not the same things.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 4:16 pm:
===I think this is all a song & dance to let Byron close that much is obvious===
You’re an idiot.
- Etown - Thursday, Sep 9, 21 @ 5:33 pm:
What is over/under on bill being called before midnight?