* Politico doesn’t appear to know the difference between a leadership team and committee chairs…

The Illinois House speaker also announced a new management team, including replacing and reshuffling committee chairs.

“We’re tasked with serving the common good, and this leadership team that you’re about to see is going to help us do that,” Welch said. “It’s a really talented group of people, they’re dedicated to collaborating. They’re already established leaders. I just think that this is an exciting group.”

The team has plenty of familiar faces, with Rep. Robyn Gabel remaining as majority leader. Rep. Kam Buckner moves up as speaker pro-tempore and co-budgeteer, a position previously held by Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth. She is now assistant majority leader.

Off the team is Rep. Aaron Ortiz, who missed a crucial budget vote last spring without notifying anyone that he was leaving town.

The same claim about committee changes was made last week, but Welch hasn’t yet released a list of new committee chairs. He has, however, reshuffled his leadership team. Click here for the full memo he sent his members.

* Anyway, Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth has released a statement after her demotion from Speaker Pro-Tempore to Assistant Majority Leader…

It was an honor to follow in the footsteps of my good friend and former Majority Leader, Greg Harris, to serve as budgeteer, and to work with my colleagues in the House and Senate, as well as Governor JB Pritzker and his senior leadership team, to deliver two consecutive balanced budgets that not only improved the lives of people across Illinois, but ensured the state continued its progress towards fiscal responsibility and sustainability.

I’ve had the privilege to help lead some of the most significant legislation passed in Springfield over the last several years: the historic 2019 capital infrastructure program; adult use cannabis legalization; becoming the only state in the country to pass Paid Leave For All, with labor, business and advocates as proponents; and shepherding fixes to the SAFE-T Act that brought along both law enforcement and grassroots organizations as proponents.

I am looking forward to continuing to serve on the leadership team of Emanuel “Chris” Welch and to supporting his historic speakership. This year is likely to be extraordinarily challenging for our state, its institutions and elected leaders who may find themselves tested in ways we have never been before. We’re going to need all hands on deck to navigate through the rough seas that lie ahead and I stand ready to do my part.

Given the size and diversity of our caucus and the projected fiscal deficit, it’s critically important we have a budget approach that expands seats at the table and incorporates new perspectives into the process. I look forward to working with and fully supporting Leaders Kam Buckner, Eva-Dina Delgado and Will Guzzardi in their new roles - and I know they’re going to be great. 

I’m excited to apply my experiences and history of consensus building to serve the Caucus as I begin this new session focused on my first loves under the dome: policy and strategy. Thank you to Speaker Welch for the opportunity to again help lead the House Democratic Caucus. I look forward to what we will accomplish together on behalf of the people of Illinois.