Today’s quotable
Wednesday, Aug 5, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The Tribune’s Rick Pearson appeared on the The 21st Show this week…
Brian Mackey: Let’s talk about the Speaker. What has been the fallout for him from this, right? A few calls for resignation from Republicans. I haven’t seen that yet from Democrats. Talk about that.
Rick Pearson: Well, there have been some Democrats that have been very strong in their criticism of him. And I think, you know, here it’s one of those things where — how public are you going to get about this? And remember, the Speaker of the House basically controls the House and, for a great deal of it, controls the money and resources that his members get for re-election. So it’s a pretty daunting kind of issue to come front and center and confront the Speaker of the House. That was true with Mike Madigan. It’s still true with Chris Welch. And so while there is consternation in the caucus, does it rise to a level of a revolt? I don’t know. We’ll see.
To me, I believe that Welch is seriously concerned — for the extraneous issue of pledging that he would lead the effort to bail out the Chicago public schools in the fall veto session with an unknown plan that has virtually no chance of happening. That just shows me the extent that Welch is taking this to try to protect his speakership, and so that tells me he’s concerned.
A few folks out there have gotten it into their heads that I’m the only one making the claim highlighted above. It’s actually pretty widespread. Capitol News Illinois…
Welch, Senate President Don Harmon and Pritzker have largely been aligned in their position of balancing the need for more education funding with budget realities.
But his apparent change of tune comes as he has been working to fortify his standing with key allies in recent weeks amid criticism over how his office handled allegations of sexual harassment against ex-Rep. Harry Benton, D-Plainfield.
- DuPage Saint - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 8:39 am:
Of course it is a ploy and i expect more. The only odd thing about it is how open it is. You would think he we be more subtle and behind closed doors about it. You will know it is over if he brings in Kevin Warren
- Excitable Boy - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 8:44 am:
- It’s actually pretty widespread -
It was ham fisted and obvious from the jump. How any serious person couldn’t see that is beyond me.
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 8:48 am:
=A few folks out there have gotten it into their heads =
That is absurd. There are several high-profile legislators that have been pretty outspoken, like Kelly Cassidy iirc. So Rich is definietly not al one and absolutely not wrong.
Without a doubt welch’s new pledge is a sadly transparent ploy to get support and brandon johnson and ctu (both representing a lot of women) are both all in for welch and this sick episode of moral relativism.
- Not Rich - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 9:06 am:
The inner circle around Welch is woefully lacking. Critical thinking is not their forte
- Tom - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 9:06 am:
I consider Rich a friend, but that has never stopped him from taking out after any politician or candidate I have worked with. He covers Springfield and knows the players better than just about anyone. You can attack his stories, but don’t attack his integrity. I’ve read him since the Hannah days, and while I don’t agree with everything he writes, he never writes with malice.
- Simon - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 9:06 am:
Pearson, unsurprisingly, diagnoses Welch’s status pretty well. There’s no real movement among members to sack him now. But things will get interesting in November when the Speaker is working behind the scenes to put together 60 votes to get re-elected, while also advancing his CPS funding gambit. Protecting rank-and-file members from political heat is a core duty of a legislative leader. Yet Welch seems poised to throw his members into the CTU fire.
In the end, we may see him fail the same way Madigan did six years ago — not because a specific challenger emerges to take him on, but because he simply can’t get to 60.
- Interested Bystander - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 9:10 am:
=Of course it is a ploy and i expect more.=
And not just more from Welch, as evidenced by the timing of Brandon Johnson’s supporting statements.
- Mister Ed - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 9:24 am:
Is Welch concerned about losing his Speakership? Of course he is worried. Cassidy is a pitbull with a solid following. This issue is huge. She could lead the charge to oust him.
- Ann Dwyer - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 9:25 am:
You and Isabel been leaders on this story, Rich, but you’re right to note that others have been flagging the issue and what it means for the speaker. We here at Crain’s editorialized on a similar theme the other day:
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/opinion/editorials/ccb-chris-welch-lig-cps-editorial-20260803/