* From Gov. Pritzker’s press conference today…
Q: Given everything that’s happened in the last couple of days, with the drama back and forth with the hemp legislation. You were pretty frank about your dissatisfaction with those situations, particularly with the Speaker’s office. Do you look at this inauguration today as a fresh start in your working with Democrats in the legislature, given all the big issues you have [to address] in the next five and a half months?
Pritzker: Every day is a new day to do the right thing. And today I had the pleasure of presiding over the Senate inauguration. … I’m somebody who’s open, willing to work with people of all political stripes and different views. I obviously feel very strongly that we need to protect and be good to our staffs. And so that was something I talked about yesterday. I think that these folks are professionals who choose to work in government and they could choose lots of other professions and careers. And so I think we owe them the respect that is due to people who are making some sacrifices and working very long hours, often to try to effectively good public policy.
Q: [Considering what happened with the House Democrats, will that effect your relationship with them going forward?]
Pritzker: Well, I’ve suggested that certain members should offer apologies to the staff, and I understand that a little of that has happened. And so no, I think that people, look, people can make mistakes, and certainly mistakes were made and behavior was improper during that caucus. But people can make amends.
Pritzker said he hasn’t talked with the House Speaker in the past 24 hours.
…Adding… Senate President Don Harmon weighed in on this during his inaugural address…
When two people, equally passionate about a topic, find themselves adamantly opposed to one another, tempers can flare.
Don’t let them.
Don’t let your words in a heated moment diminish the valuable work you’ve come here to do.
Because at the end of the day, we are all here because we love this state, the people who call it home, and want the best for all of them.
We can’t do this job on our own.
We need all of our neighbors.
So, don’t forget a “please” and “thank you” for the people who keep this building running: our excellent staff.
They, like everyone else, deserve kindness and respect.
They deserve to be treated like the professionals they are.
- New Day - Wednesday, Jan 8, 25 @ 2:41 pm:
I have tried to give the speaker the benefit of the doubt in his leadership approach. But the wheels are coming off the bus at a critical time. The Speaker NEEDS the governor. What he’s doing is decimating his staff of experienced pros, poisoning his relationship with the Governor and preparing to go into the budget wars with a rookie staff and soured relationship with his #1 benefactor. I don’t get it.
- The Real Downstate - Wednesday, Jan 8, 25 @ 2:47 pm:
Worth noting what President Harmon said in his speech today: “[Legislative staff] like everyone else, deserve kindness and respect. They deserve to be treated like the professionals that they are.”
- Former Staffer - Wednesday, Jan 8, 25 @ 2:55 pm:
The Speaker’s comments last night on the floor lead me to believe that he doesn’t understand the depth of what is happening. I’m not sure if that is his failing, the failing of the senior staff and caucus leadership around him, or maybe both. At this point, he should be concerned about going into budget season not with a rookie staff, but with no staff. The Governor is correct, talented staff can pick where they want to work. And talented staff aren’t picking the House Democrats not just because of the Speaker but because of the culture that is embraces by rank-and-file members.
- Solo stove - Wednesday, Jan 8, 25 @ 2:58 pm:
This is culture that has been established in the House Democratic caucus. Treating the staff poorly happens overtly like what happened in caucus. By the way, that happens all the time. And it happens quietly, like how the speaker treated his senior staff with changes he recently made. It’s a culture. And it is embraced by rank and file members.
- Norseman - Wednesday, Jan 8, 25 @ 3:00 pm:
Speaker Welch - if you don’t remember your recent history go back to the class on the Rauner years. The MAGA GOP became beholden to his money and when he fizzled, they were left floundering. Not that I’m saying JB is in trouble, but you need to remember who holds the purse strings. You may want to be more cooperative until you have a comparable war chest.
- ugh - Wednesday, Jan 8, 25 @ 3:12 pm:
Dear IL Democrats - Please get on the same page and fast so we can be ready, united for what could come at us from D.C. in just weeks.
I know that’s so corny but seriously.
- Island Girl - Wednesday, Jan 8, 25 @ 3:18 pm:
The reports of staff abuse or mistreatment are so disappointing and unacceptable. Persons in power who behave this way toward people with less power are displaying a significant character flaw. It’s important that it’s being called out.
- Dakno Thing - Wednesday, Jan 8, 25 @ 3:30 pm:
Like New Day - I am also completely baffled by the Speaker’s actions here. He has had no more staunch ally than the Governor. That doesn’t mean he should or can do everything the Governor wants. But it does mean you don’t push your friend under a bus.
It seems increasingly obvious to me that the Speaker had no intention of ever calling that Hemp Bill. I’m not sure why and I won’t speculate in this post on why. But what I am baffled by is why he didn’t communicate that early to the Governor. The Governor’s staff would not put their boss on the phone to lobby members if they knew there was no way the bill would get called.
What’s upsetting to me is I am coming to the conclusion that the Speaker didn’t handle this situation that way because he wanted to show his caucus he was willing to stick it to the Governor.
Here’s the problem with that. Anyone who has been watching anything happening in Springfield the last two years knows that Speaker has ended the last two sessions in a complete member and staff meltdown over the budget. In both cases, the Governor and his team helped bail out the House - and then seemed to take a pass on criticizing the Speaker over the mess. Because that’s what allies do - even when they are frustrated.
It’s ungracious and dumb to return those favors the way the Speaker has the last few days. I know there are members of the House who like to yell about the Speaker being close to the Governor. That complaint to me, as someone who lived through the Rauner years, speaks to a level of idiocy I can barely handle. Thank your lucky stars you have a competent Governor of your own party who is willing to commit his own resources and political capital to getting you reelected every two years. Again you don’t have to agree with him all the time. You don’t have to vote for all his bills or accept what he offers without complaint or feedback. But you should not want to embarrass him. Because that’s the road to irrelevancy.
- Solo stove - Wednesday, Jan 8, 25 @ 3:33 pm:
===ugh===
100% correct. But to be able to be prepared for what’s coming, we need to functional House of Representatives. If they can’t pass a ban to keep kids from buying Delta 8 products, they’re not going to pass anything to push back on what’s coming at us from DC and just weeks.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jan 8, 25 @ 3:40 pm:
===It seems increasingly obvious to me that the Speaker had no intention of ever calling that Hemp Bill===
Yeah, I’m getting that too.
- Get a Grip - Wednesday, Jan 8, 25 @ 3:56 pm:
The story isn’t really the back and forth between the Speaker and the Governor; it is the wasting of political Capital and dysfunction over such a low priority issue.
Of all the fiscal challenges and other first tier matters the State faces, illegal pot stores is where the Dems take up the fight?
Perhaps a microcosm of the underlying national Dem struggle to identify the issues that matter most to the larger citizenry.
The focus and bad blood, over Hemp, is an amateur hour unforced error.
- Shytown - Wednesday, Jan 8, 25 @ 4:07 pm:
It sounds like the Speaker isn’t getting the advice he needs and/or is digging in, refusing to recognize the gravity of what transpired yesterday. The best leaders are those who acknowledge when something didn’t go right under their watch and commit to doing the right thing moving forward. I think he’d be doing himself a huge favor by doing so with both his caucus and the administration. His members need to hear him acknowledge this and, for his own politics, the administration as well.
- Alton Sinkhole - Wednesday, Jan 8, 25 @ 5:40 pm:
The behavior must’ve been BAD behind closed doors if it’s spilling out this much into the open. Wow.
- Lean staffer - Wednesday, Jan 8, 25 @ 6:11 pm:
Names need to be named. Legislators act like this because they bear no consequence for their actions. Given Welch has shown he has no regard for the mental health or well-being of his staff, pressure needs to be exerted to find out who these legislators are. The only way things will change is if legislators start seeing political consequences for their behavior.
- Lincoln Lad - Wednesday, Jan 8, 25 @ 9:30 pm:
Agree with Lean staffer. I thought everybody knew but me… lol
- It’s a shame…. - Wednesday, Jan 8, 25 @ 9:51 pm:
Welch became Speaker as a result of the Me Too movement that Madigan faced. It was the female legislators that made Welch the first Black speaker. He needs to reflect back on the night when he first became Speaker.
The actions of his top female staffers does not set an image that is very becoming for Speaker Welch. The same women that put him into the position of power are the same people that can demand change & take away his power.
Speaker Welch needs to take a close look at his leadership team. He needs the institution knowledge & common sense approach that Manley & Hoffman bring to his leadership team. He needs the respect & loyalty that both members have earned over the years from the statehouse types! Chis Welch needs to do damage control right now and bring stability back to HIS caucus!