* While answering a question about the $40 million he put into the budget for a new sports complex at Proviso West High School, House Speaker Chris Welch said this…
And for those that are saying that their communities are overlooked, let me respond to that this way. My new chief of staff, Clayton Harris III, is here with me this morning. One of the things that we’re proud of doing is that we took the Minority Leader and her chief of staff to dinner. And I turned to her and I said, ‘Leader, how can I help you? How can I help your members?’
And her response to me was, ‘Don’t expect us to vote for the budget. Don’t expect us to get primaried.’
* From House Republican Leader Tony McCombie…
Let’s be clear: the dinner wasn’t about the budget — it was an attempt, suggested by his new Chief of Staff, to mend a fractured relationship. Instead, Speaker Welch twisted a gesture of goodwill into a weak justification for throwing $40 million at a stadium while pretending this was a ‘tough’ budget year. That kind of spin is exactly why Illinois continues to fall behind our neighbors. The Speaker doesn’t miss a chance to be petty, partisan, and divisive — and Illinois families are the ones left picking up the tab.
- WTF - Monday, Jun 16, 25 @ 2:07 pm:
How does any steward of public money possibly think it’s reasonable for one high school’s sports facilities to cost $40 million? Is this just a giveaway to the contractors?
- Cool Papa Bell - Monday, Jun 16, 25 @ 2:20 pm:
=The Speaker doesn’t miss a chance to be petty, partisan, and divisive=
Oh please.
- Yooper in Diaspora - Monday, Jun 16, 25 @ 2:25 pm:
There is so much deferred maintenance at the state’s public universities. Two or more academic buildings at mine currently lack AC. There are community colleges in better shape. I would rather that legislators address deferred maintenance before brand new buildings that haven’t already been promised for years.
- Frida's Boss - Monday, Jun 16, 25 @ 2:31 pm:
Why even talk about the dinner?
I can’t imagine McCombie going to dinner with the thought that it’ll be on the record and he’ll use anything she said at that dinner against her. I guess those dinners won’t happen again, knowing what they know, as the real reason for the dinner was to use any conversation against her. Lesson learned for Tony and her Chief not to trust that Clayton and team are looking to work together.
Even if she said they’re not voting for the budget, does that mean you add a $40 million sports complex, $5 million for NASCAR, and I’m sure other pieces that’ll get press clipping once it all gets put through the ringer?
- Lefty Lefty - Monday, Jun 16, 25 @ 2:33 pm:
So many of our elected leaders just can’t control themselves. $40 million for one location, $300 million for the rest of the state.
That is some weak sauce, Speaker Welch.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Jun 16, 25 @ 2:34 pm:
===Why even talk about the dinner?===
They’re trolling her and inflaming intra-party tensions. See last week’s caption contest for another example.
https://capitolfax.com/2025/06/11/caption-contest-596/
- Frida's Boss - Monday, Jun 16, 25 @ 3:28 pm:
Agreed, he’s been trolling recently, and I think I commented last week on it with the picture release.
I don’t get this one? I don’t think this one was trolling. I think he was trying to find a way to pivot from the question about $40 million for his former school. Next dinner with the Leader will be way less open and honest with conversation.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Jun 16, 25 @ 3:32 pm:
===Next dinner with the Leader will be ===
…with at least one new leader /s
- Frida's Boss - Monday, Jun 16, 25 @ 3:52 pm:
RM- I see what you did there
- Vyacheslav Molotov - Monday, Jun 16, 25 @ 4:53 pm:
=== Next dinner with the Leader will be ===
I would not count on anymore dinners any time soon.
I don’t know if its a written rule or an unwritten rule, but what’s said at Saputo’s is supposed to stay at Saputo’s, not thrown out at a presser.
This is not how you build trust accross the aisle.
Also, IDK if her saying there would be no GOP votes for the budget was a shock or meant as a dig, but it seemed like a candid statement and he could have just thanked her for her frankness and said “Do you see any non-budget issues where we can work together?”
I get that the Speaker is mad that he is taking heat for a $40 million project at his alma mater. Honestly people should have told him that’s exactly what was going to happen. Is there a double-standard because he is Black? Absolutely.
The last time I recall controversy like this it involved President Emil Jones and Chicago State University, which was in his district. Emil sent millions in member initiatives to the university, where his late wife Patricia graduated, and the university gave him an honorary degree and named their auditorium in honor of the Joneses.
No one blinks when white leaders direct money to institutions, in part because everyone expects White civic institutions to feed at the trough.
That said, $40 million is a lot of money, expecially in a belt-tightening budget.
- CA-HOON - Monday, Jun 16, 25 @ 5:26 pm:
Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin, Kentucky and Misery.
These are the states Tony thinks we’re “falling behind”? By what metric? Illiteracy? Alcoholism?