Legislative leaders declare victory
Wednesday, Nov 9, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The House Democrats appear to be netting an increase to their super majority, possibly to 77-41. Here’s Speaker Welch…
Tonight, House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and Democrats for the Illinois House maintained the Democratic supermajority in the Illinois State House and continued turning previously red districts blue.
This election cycle, Democrats for the Illinois House ran 67 contested House races, the most in its history. Yet, tonight’s results show that the battle has only strengthened House Democrats.
“We know that when we fight, we win — and tonight, that couldn’t be more true,” said Speaker of the Illinois House Emanuel “Chris” Welch. “House Democrats have fought tirelessly for working families and have secured important legislative wins to protect reproductive rights, rebuild our infrastructure, fund critical public safety initiatives, and so much more. With our supermajority stronger than ever, we’ll build on our incredible progress to keep our state moving forward and continue delivering for working families in communities across Illinois.”
“Our Democratic supermajority in the House has delivered real results for Illinoisans in communities across our state — from codifying reproductive rights to balancing the budget to investing in community safety. I’m thrilled that by maintaining this critical supermajority, we’ll continue to move Illinois forward,” said Lisa Hernandez, chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois. “This is a win for working families and communities in every corner of our state — and Democrats in the State House are just getting started.”
* Senate President Don Harmon…
Elections results appear to show the Illinois Senate Democrats will hold a super majority in the next General Assembly. Senate President Don Harmon issued the following statement.
“The people have spoken. Now it’s time to get to work governing.
Illinois Senate Democrats are committed to responsible state budgets that prioritize funding for schools, health care and public safety; meaningful ethics reforms; and equality of opportunity for all Illinoisans through job creation and community investment.
These principles guide our caucus through thick and thin. With the help of our allies throughout this great state we have produced balanced budgets, dynamic investment in public education, a record-setting string of credit rating improvements and newfound commitment to social justice.
I look forward to new opportunities to work together to find consensus on solving problems, righting wrongs and moving Illinois forward.”
Your thoughts on what they should do?
- Quibbler - Wednesday, Nov 9, 22 @ 9:47 am:
They should pass a trans refuge law like California recently did, to protect trans people fleeing less hospitable states and settling here. And they should not gut the SAFE-T Act. If any issue was litigated in the election, it was the abolition of cash bail, and the pro-carceral side was trounced.
- Norseman - Wednesday, Nov 9, 22 @ 9:49 am:
My apologies for commenting in the reverse, but I would like them to not take this as an opportunity to greatly expand spending. IL will be going through some tough economic times and they must tread carefully.
- NotRich - Wednesday, Nov 9, 22 @ 9:50 am:
It’s not crime, it’s not the economy.. it’s THE MAP!!
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Nov 9, 22 @ 9:55 am:
@Norseman +1
Let’s hunker down and address some issues that, if they do not make serious progress on, could make the next election a very different experience.
Improve DCFS, DOC, Dispensaries, crime.
Focus on that and it could get even better for the majority party.
- PublicServant - Wednesday, Nov 9, 22 @ 9:57 am:
Agree with Norseman and JS.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 9, 22 @ 9:59 am:
- Norseman - and - JS Mill - understand the governing.
The politics won the day, the governing allows Illinois to win well after.
- Amalia - Wednesday, Nov 9, 22 @ 10:01 am:
Assault weapons ban. And fix the SAFET act.
- Hot Taeks - Wednesday, Nov 9, 22 @ 10:02 am:
Make another fix to sports gambling so we can bet on in-state college teams via the mobile app.
- P. - Wednesday, Nov 9, 22 @ 10:06 am:
Deliver on that promise to do something after the Highland Park shooting.
- Day Late - Wednesday, Nov 9, 22 @ 10:06 am:
== Illinois Senate Democrats are committed to responsible state budgets that prioritize funding for schools, health care and public safety; meaningful ethics reforms; and equality of opportunity for all Illinoisans through job creation and community investment.==
Are the Senate Democrats committed to holding their members accountable for beating and chronically terrorizing women? This should fall into the bucket of equality of all Illinoisans.
- Ok - Wednesday, Nov 9, 22 @ 10:07 am:
Be competent and govern. Don’t try to win back downstate seats. Lean in to the working group model.
Defend against local Republican attempts to takeover and run schools.
- Notorious JMB - Wednesday, Nov 9, 22 @ 10:09 am:
@Mill - Those issues were out there in this cycle and GOP beat the crime issue to death with little to no electoral impact. Springfield news has run a series of investigative stories for at least 2 years on DCFS and Scheerer and Turner both won. The dispensary issue is a meh issue to all but base voters. Same with problems with DOC.
The issues the general public are going to care about are the same issues they’ve always cared about: education and the economy, at least at the state level. How parties/candidates fare in the next election will depend on how they frame/resolve issues within those two categories.
- H-W - Wednesday, Nov 9, 22 @ 10:18 am:
I would like to see a district maps for the House and the Senate, showing how each district voted in the Gubernatorial race and the Attorney General race.
If there are significant contradictions between how each district is represented in the legislature, and how each district voted in the statewide elections, it might suggest the maps are problematic.
Just a thought, and only tangentially related to the question, “what should they do?” in the context of representative governance v. gerrymandering.
- Glengarry - Wednesday, Nov 9, 22 @ 10:21 am:
Allowing the dispensaries to deliver cannabis should be a key consideration this upcoming spring session.
- Excitable Boy - Wednesday, Nov 9, 22 @ 10:29 am:
An assault weapon ban will likely get tossed by SCOTUS. Focus on making them harder to get and especially easier to take away from those that demonstrate a threat. Find some way to crack down on straw purchasing.
Decriminalize drugs across the board, legalize and regulate psychedelics.
Do something about rural healthcare, I hate that my parents live in a town that once had a hospital but no longer has a single doctor.
I could go on but that’s a start.
- DuPage Saint - Wednesday, Nov 9, 22 @ 10:34 am:
Could be an historic opportunity. Imagine fixing or going a long way toward fixing DCFS a problem forever DOC, homeless and drug addiction. Broken down into segments but all related. Think big
- Louis G Atsaves - Wednesday, Nov 9, 22 @ 10:44 am:
In my door to door activities, the Governor’s statement that he would fix the SAFE-T Act resonated with the voters I spoke with. But then again, he promised not to sign any bill that would gerrymander districts.
Fix DCFS. Fix Unemployment benefits. Pay better attention and protect those in State Facilities who need our care, like Veterans and Seniors.
Work with the minority party. One party veto proof rule is not what I call protecting Democracy/snark.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 9, 22 @ 10:48 am:
===One party veto proof rule is not what I call protecting Democracy===
Voters rejecting GOPers isn’t the voters fault.
Voters aren’t choosing what the GOP represents.
We literally had an election that is telling the GOP they are rejecting what they believe.
- Techie - Wednesday, Nov 9, 22 @ 10:54 am:
Agree with what many others have said. Straighten out the mess at DCFS so that kids in difficult situations get the support they need.
Tweak the SAFE-T Act to clarify anything which is or is alleged to be unclear.
Modify cannabis laws to truly allow those impacted by criminalization to open dispensaries. Allow dispensaries to deliver. Allow home grow to recreational users. Remove limits to on personal stash.
In lieu of a graduated income tax, offer more tax relief to low-income people by expanding the earned income tax credit.
See what we can do about expanding access to higher education. If Tennessee can offer free community college, perhaps Illinois can find a way.
Enact voting reform like approval voting to make elections more competitive and thus make politicians more accountable.
- Zim - Wednesday, Nov 9, 22 @ 10:57 am:
Missouri voters approved recreational marijuana. That should prompt a review of how it is taxed in Illinois.
- Curious citizen - Wednesday, Nov 9, 22 @ 10:58 am:
They should definitely fix the SAFE-T act and blow their own horn when they do. Although they won’t do it, I would love to see another attempt at a graduated income tax.
And they should be kicking themselves for not running someone against Tim Butler - this district just might have been competitive this time.
- cermak_rd - Wednesday, Nov 9, 22 @ 11:02 am:
Notorious JMB,
But even if improving the prisons and long term care situation doesn’t win a single vote they are still the right things to do.
No prisoner should be beaten. Guards should be able to do their job in safety. Prisoners should be offered a way to improve their life for when they get out.
Patients in the VA nursing homes and long-term state psych care should be treated with dignity, not shoved early off their mortal coil.
- OnePartyRule - Wednesday, Nov 9, 22 @ 11:42 am:
—Defend against local Republican attempts to takeover and run schools —
Translated “One party rule at every level of government is how we defend democracy”
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Nov 9, 22 @ 11:44 am:
=Translated “One party rule at every level of government is how we defend democracy”=
I guess that could happen if that many people reject the ilgop message. We are certainly on that path.
Was that what you were thinking?
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 9, 22 @ 11:47 am:
===Translated “One party rule at every level of government is how we defend democracy”===
If you believe that, explain why folks like Bailey “start their own schools”?
Maybe it’s because the narrowing of minds to the GOP thinking isn’t what public schools do, as they embrace more inclusive things?
- Been There - Wednesday, Nov 9, 22 @ 11:57 am:
===Your thoughts on what they should do?====
Give staff a long vacation.
Oh wait, we have veto session next week. Get back to work.
- Wheeeee - Wednesday, Nov 9, 22 @ 12:10 pm:
Harmon the only Dem loser last night. Rough.
- Annonin' - Wednesday, Nov 9, 22 @ 12:20 pm:
We would urge quick formation of those secret, dark money PACs and sign Durkie to a contract extension and/or promote Zock as the next GOPie leader.
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Nov 9, 22 @ 12:26 pm:
=The issues the general public are going to care about are the same issues they’ve always cared about: education and the economy, =
Only one of those is state issue. And I am talking about governing, not campaigning. We have a gun violence issue that needs to improve.
Focus on the fundamental work and the next election takes care of itself.
- clec dcn - Wednesday, Nov 9, 22 @ 12:32 pm:
Crime happens to everyone so I hope they can get to work on making things peaceful. I don’t think the Safet act is not going to help but some things can change. Possibly do things to draw folks to stay in Illinois. Property taxes would greatly help if they could get under control, I just have no faith they can do much.
- ArchPundit - Wednesday, Nov 9, 22 @ 12:48 pm:
What would Democrats do without the vaunted Madigan ground game?
- Kane County Critic - Wednesday, Nov 9, 22 @ 1:17 pm:
They should do something about property taxes. There’s a recession looming. People will need the help.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Nov 9, 22 @ 2:19 pm:
==They should do something about property taxes.==
You willing to trade lower property taxes for higher income or sales taxes? Because you’re going to have to shift the lost revenue from lower property taxes to the state so that the education funding can be made up.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Nov 9, 22 @ 2:22 pm:
I think they should stay the course. The voting public seems to be satisfied with what they are doing.
- The Velvet Frog - Wednesday, Nov 9, 22 @ 3:11 pm:
==I would love to see another attempt at a graduated income tax.==
Amen to that. Maybe people are starting to see through the fearmongering about higher taxes.
- Excitable Boy - Wednesday, Nov 9, 22 @ 4:46 pm:
- trade lower property taxes for higher income or sales taxes? -
Since Citadel moved HQ to Miami and the state hasn’t collapsed, maybe it’s time to take another look at the financial transaction tax.