House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch promised the Chicago Teachers Union last week that he will “lead” the effort to send more state money to Chicago Public Schools during the upcoming fall veto session.
Welch made his pledge in a CTU-posted video Wednesday while holding a union poster blasting proposed CPS layoffs and budget cuts. “The state of Illinois underfunds Chicago schools by $2 billion,” the poster proclaimed.
“This should not be happening,” Welch said, gesturing toward the sign focusing on layoffs. “I do think that the state of Illinois can do better, should do better. This should be, and I’m going to keep fighting for you, so that we can get more revenue to get to CPS schools … I will lead that effort in the veto session.”
Welch, of course, has been under fire for weeks because, among other things, he waited almost three years after then-Rep. Harry Benton, D-Plainfield, was accused of sexual harassment to take any sort of action. He’s also faced heat for inappropriate personal interactions with the alleged victim. He obviously needs allies.
But any tax hike and/or supplemental appropriations bills with immediate effective dates would require three-fifths votes in both chambers during veto session — making Welch’s pledge ring more than a little hollow and setting off alarm bells among some of his members.
“Getting flashbacks of the Madigan experience where the speaker stops saying no to everyone to desperately keep his job,” one suburban House member who asked for anonymity told me.
Indeed, when Michael Madigan was under fire, he regularly agreed to put his weight behind legislation favored by groups of members, which directly led to things like hundreds of millions of dollars in state-paid healthcare for undocumented immigrants.
“I think his idea is laughable,” said one exurban House Democrat when contacted by my associate Isabel Miller.
“How is a vote that excludes every suburban district that is having to make hard choices good for the caucus?” a suburban Democrat asked.
Not all suburbanites were so negative. Progressive Rep. Dagmara Avelar, D-Bolingbrook, told Isabel, “I am in support of making sure all our schools in need are funded, and I’m looking forward to actively discuss the resources needed to tackle this issue during veto.”
Welch’s people and some of his allies have been privately putting pressure on skeptical members to stay quiet during this Benton-related uproar, and according to sources, give Welch time to “let this all blow over.”
Welch did not consult with his caucus before making his CTU pledge, and some see it as temporarily benefiting himself while setting up his members to look bad this fall when his unilateral promise can’t be kept. Never show weakness.
And how hard can Welch push members to help him fulfill this new pledge while also pressuring members to stay in line on the questions that continue to swirl around him?
The day after Welch made that commitment to the CTU, the CPS Board voted to pass a budget that relies on the state increasing funding by $150 million in the next few months. The CTU supported the vote.
But as I told you above, Welch did not seek buy-in from his caucus before making the pledge, and finding a three-fifths super-majority to spend even $150 million that the state doesn’t currently have to bail out Chicago doesn’t seem possible. Besides the obvious regional rivalries, and the fact that CPS put itself into this position by using temporary pandemic money for its permanent base spending, lots of legislators were disappointed in May with the appropriated funding for their cherished programs.
So, if the CTU wants to increase revenue, then it’s gonna be a whole lot more than $150 million. And then they’d have to find 71 votes in the House and 36 in the Senate to pay for it.
The CTU is now proclaiming that they have triangulated Gov. JB Pritzker because they have both Welch and Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, on their side. But Harmon did not go nearly as far as Welch, merely committing to working with them on finding revenue.
Nevertheless, the union sent an email to members after the vote claiming that Pritzker “has been in office for eight years and owes the state’s students $6.4 billion dollars from pre-K to Ph.D.”
In his attempt to secure the support of a powerful ally while he’s under fire over the Benton debacle, Welch may have inadvertently tossed the governor under the bus.
The next day, Pritzker turned the tables by saying he was waiting to see Welch’s plan.
* Also, if you’re wondering why so many people are staying silent or refusing to speak on the record…
- JustMe - Monday, Aug 3, 26 @ 9:19 am:
I am surprised that pundits and commenters here don’t distinguish between Madigan and Welch when it comes to “me too.” No one ever suggested that Madigan abused his power vis-a-vis women relative to sexuality — he was far too prim for that. Welch is another story altogether.
- Google is Your Friend - Monday, Aug 3, 26 @ 9:55 am:
Does Stuart know Jackson Potter isn’t on the school board?
- Steve - Monday, Aug 3, 26 @ 10:33 am:
-Pritzker turned the tables by saying he was waiting to see Welch’s plan.-
This is a very reasonable question to ask. What is the plan to increase spending and taxes if you want more spending?
- Grandson of Man - Monday, Aug 3, 26 @ 10:53 am:
It’s very wrong for the Speaker to propose something unrealistic like this. A rule of precinct captains, ward committeepeople and alderpeople of old, like Vito Marzullo, was to not mislead constituents, but tell them up front if something can’t be done.
At the same time, voting yes on progressive taxation in this age of massive handouts to billionaires and drastic federal cuts should be low hanging fruit to Democrats. That they would push back or oppose this shows why they are losing some primary races, and why many are turning their backs on mainstream Democrats.
- Pundent - Monday, Aug 3, 26 @ 10:55 am:
Chris Welch has been Speaker for 5 years now. And he’s chosen this moment to lead the cause for more funding for CPS. And in a veto session no less.
None of this should be a surprise to the House Dems. He’s not exactly a political newcomer. They knew exactly who he was in 2021 and elected him anyway.
- JS Mill - Monday, Aug 3, 26 @ 10:58 am:
@Steve and Pundent +1
- Sue - Monday, Aug 3, 26 @ 11:03 am:
Potter’s statement can be Exhibit A to a lawsuit alleging a statutory violation by the Board passing an unbalanced budget- you can’t satisfy your statutory duty on the hope for more legislative funding
- Michelle Flaherty - Monday, Aug 3, 26 @ 11:17 am:
Maybe they can sell the Thompson Center.
- JS Mill - Monday, Aug 3, 26 @ 11:22 am:
=Potter’s statement can be Exhibit A to a lawsuit=
Potter works for CTU not CPS, so probably not. That does not mean it isn’t true (the Board passing an unbalanced budget in violation of the law).
- Sue - Monday, Aug 3, 26 @ 11:28 am:
JS- lets see - CTU controls a majority of Board members- CTU VP confirms a plan for funding does not exist- the Board’s CTU affiliated members vote for an unbalanced budget and then chastise the Superintendent - Discovery would be interesting as to the coordination and whether Potter is or is not part of CPS his statement is evidence that no funding was apparent at the time of the vote/ those 11 members are financially on the hook for any damages this unlawful budget leads to when the money is not forthcoming
- Candy Dogood - Monday, Aug 3, 26 @ 11:34 am:
===What is the plan to increase spending and taxes if you want more spending? ===
The Governor’s pet project that is a several hundred million dollar gift to the wealthiest companies in the history of the planet.
Schools or Quantum? Schools — or hand outs to Google?
What’s the difference between a Quantum computing facility and a data center?
- Pistol Pete - Monday, Aug 3, 26 @ 12:17 pm:
If you want the technology industry to expand in Illinois and employ permanent high wage workers as well as the temporary high wage union construction jobs that will build this infrastructure that will last decades, “handouts” are the price of admission in Illinois and every other state
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Monday, Aug 3, 26 @ 12:50 pm:
CTU and the Mayor definitely pressured the CPS board members to vote for a potentially illegal budget amendment. They do not really care if their allies suffer legal consequences for their irresponsible plans.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Aug 3, 26 @ 12:52 pm:
===Jackson Potter isn’t on the school board? ===
That’s akin to saying that Gov. Pritzker isn’t on the ICC.
- Grandma Frances - Monday, Aug 3, 26 @ 1:42 pm:
This is looking more and more like an own goal by Welch. If he had kept his head down, issued vague statements, and waited, the weirdness of the LIG report, combined with Alexi etc., might have taken him out of the headlines. Instead, he’s put himself front and center by picking a fight with JB and dropping himself into the middle of a messed-up CPS budget. I can’t see an exit strategy, but we’ll see.
- low level - Monday, Aug 3, 26 @ 1:44 pm:
What is truly mind boggling is how incompetent Potter and CTU leadership are. Incredible. Throw in the mayor’s IGA “team” as well. Clueless.
- Stephanie Kollmann - Monday, Aug 3, 26 @ 3:34 pm:
==This is looking more and more like an own goal by Welch==
The “own goal” here is not going above and beyond to take a harassment complaint seriously, especially since every single sign at the time pointed to why that is important.
Everything after that is just whatever.
- JS Mill - Monday, Aug 3, 26 @ 3:46 pm:
=JS- lets see =
Reading and comprehension are important.
=CTU and the Mayor definitely pressured the CPS board members to vote for a potentially illegal budget amendment. They do not really care if their allies suffer legal consequences for their irresponsible plans.=
This.
- Percy - Monday, Aug 3, 26 @ 4:29 pm:
Welch is gonna bring down the ticket for the Dems if he hangs on. It will be interesting to actually see if all his members vote for him again as Speaker. Crespo’s Press Release condemning his leadership seems spot on. Wow…how the tables have turned.
- Grandma Frances - Monday, Aug 3, 26 @ 5:49 pm:
Stephanie - The harassment issue is important, but I don’t think it’s “whatever” that hundreds of teachers and other school employees may be laid off because CPS relied on his word and included $150 million in magic beans in their budget.
- low level - Monday, Aug 3, 26 @ 7:36 pm:
==Welch is gonna bring down the ticket for the Dems if he hangs on.==
Right. Keep telling yourself that. While it wont help, I doubt even 75% of voters can name who the Speaker of the Illinois House is. Most people have more pressing concerns.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Aug 3, 26 @ 8:50 pm:
===bring down the ticket===
Have you seen the map?
- Dotnonymous x - Monday, Aug 3, 26 @ 9:29 pm:
75% is way high…more like 95% couldn’t tell you the Speaker’s name…even outside a Springfield Wal-Mart.