Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Trouble in paradise

Posted in:

Illinois

Usually, top Democrats in this state have gone out of their way to placate US House Speaker Denny Hastert. Senate President Emil Jones has broken with the pack, however.

A top state Democrat blasted the U.S. House speaker Tuesday on what he called silence on President Bush’s proposed cut in federal Amtrak funding.

The administration budget for fiscal year 2006, unveiled last week, provides no operating funds for Amtrak. State Senate President Emil Jones of Chicago condemned Speaker Denny Hastert, a Republican from Plano, for not criticizing the plan.

“As important as transportation is in Illinois and across this nation, I would hope that the speaker of the House, who happens to be from Illinois, would stand up, even if it’s against his own president, and know this is wrong,” Jones said. […]

“Speaker Hastert shouldn’t sit back there like he has lockjaw,” Jones said. “He should speak up for the people of Illinois.”

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Feb 16, 05 @ 3:55 am

Comments

This is refreshing, in a way.

It’s nice to know that when something has a possibility of damaging the state, our lawmakers will stand up for it instead of just sitting idly by.

Applause to Emil.

Comment by Drew Hibbard Wednesday, Feb 16, 05 @ 10:56 am