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State Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch was walking through security at the Bank of Springfield Center on his way to the makeshift Illinois House floor the morning of Jan. 11 when he received a call that would change his life. […]

It was House Speaker Michael Madigan, who told Welch he planned to suspend his campaign for a 19th term as speaker and give the House Democratic Caucus an opportunity to find someone other than himself who could reach the pivotal 60 votes needed to be elected.

Then came the pivotal question from Madigan: “Chris, do you want to be speaker?”

Welch, in an interview last week, said he initially did not know how to respond to Madigan’s inquiry and thought it may be a trick question. […]

“I said, ‘Mr. Speaker, if there’s an opening, I don’t know who wouldn’t want an opportunity to make history,” Welch said. “I do believe I would do a good job with it.’”

* The Question: I know it’s early, but what sort of House Speaker do you think Chris Welch will be?

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Feb 2, 21 @ 1:47 pm

Comments

So far, I have been happy to see him engaging and collaborating with diverse groups. I am cautiously hopeful that we will see a new era of bipartisan communication and cooperation, but I do worry that the realities of politics and elections will muddy the waters quickly. We can only hope that the honeymoon period is lengthy.

Comment by thechampaignlife Tuesday, Feb 2, 21 @ 1:52 pm
Speaker Welch already is more open and accessible, to Members and media, than Madigan. That change alone is significant. He will certainly chart his own path and changes, hopefully for the good, will be noticeable.

That being said, as the old sports saying goes: “You don’t want to be the guy who follows The Guy.”

Comment by Inverted Pyramid Tuesday, Feb 2, 21 @ 2:01 pm
Shouldn’t we ask Madigan?

Comment by Dotnonymous Tuesday, Feb 2, 21 @ 2:02 pm
Right now, I’m giving him the benefit of being tabula rasa.

How he writes his history going forward is up to him, and is how I will eventually form my view of him.

While it is early, I do see him as having the correct perception of his role in government which makes me lean a little more on the side of him turning out to be the right person for the job.

Comment by TheInvisibleMan Tuesday, Feb 2, 21 @ 2:02 pm
I’d start right here;

The peaceful changing of the guard that was anticlimactic to the comparison of the falling of Rome, you have to first give credit to the 19 (would be remiss if I don’t), but credit to Welch in his first moves to first ascend to Speaker then organize and move forward as he has, still in an anticlimactic way, gotta give him props.

That’s where I’d start my answer. The handling of the business to replace Madigan was anticlimactic. That isn’t an accident or a happening due to luck.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 2, 21 @ 2:07 pm
Well said, OW, well said. We could all use a bit more anticlimatic-ness in our world right now.

Comment by thechampaignlife Tuesday, Feb 2, 21 @ 2:12 pm
Talkative.

Speaker Welch is going to talk to lawmakers, lobbyists and the media more.

It could turn out to be his greatest strength and — simultaneously — his greatest weakness.

Comment by Juvenal Tuesday, Feb 2, 21 @ 2:14 pm
Inclusive, collegial, courageous. Friendly but firm!

A new day, to be sure.

Comment by Chuck Button Tuesday, Feb 2, 21 @ 2:20 pm
Gonna go with “transitional”.

He’s not Madigan. He’s not going to stick around for 26 years. So there will be another Speaker much sooner. And we’ll need to see what that one is like- or maybe the one after that, even- to really know what the new normal is.

Welch will be the transition to that new normal.

Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Feb 2, 21 @ 2:29 pm
Once the “Era of Good Feelings” ends (don’t have a clue when that will be), he’s going to feel like this …

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_MaJDK3VNE

Comment by Anyone Remember Tuesday, Feb 2, 21 @ 2:32 pm
Reasonable

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Feb 2, 21 @ 2:36 pm
Words do matter, but of course not as much as actions do. He has said many of the things we would want someone new to his position to say. Time and his actions will determine if he is able to do what he has said.

So I would say, he will be more than what we expected, less than what we had hoped and nowhere near as bad as the Eastern Promises group would lead you to believe.

Comment by Tommydanger Tuesday, Feb 2, 21 @ 2:39 pm
“That being said, as the old sports saying goes: ‘You don’t want to be the guy who follows The Guy.’”

Hey, if he’s Neal Anderson, that would be great. (Not that Madigan was ever Sweetness.)

Comment by Keyrock Tuesday, Feb 2, 21 @ 3:04 pm
With a tip of the cap to Ryan Bukvich, I say…. uh… right-handed.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Tuesday, Feb 2, 21 @ 3:09 pm
- thechampaignlife -

:)

I’ll take any dose of anticlimactic I can get right now too.

Be well.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Feb 2, 21 @ 3:10 pm
I have only heard him speak once, but he speaks well, demands respect and deserves a shot at it. As long as he is not pushed into a corner by any specific caucus or lobbyist group, I think he will be a shot of fresh air…but, that is a lot of “ifs”.

Comment by Taxedoutwest Tuesday, Feb 2, 21 @ 3:38 pm
“… pivotal question from Madigan: “Chris, do you want to be speaker?”

I think this speaks highly of Madigan, that he holds Welch in high regard. That Madigan was willing to step down for a favored lieutenant.

Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Feb 2, 21 @ 3:53 pm
I wish Speaker Welch well and I will not burden him with my expectations nor jinx him with my predictions.

Comment by Candy Dogood Tuesday, Feb 2, 21 @ 4:09 pm
As you said, it’s early. But he has the potential to make a significant impact of his own.

We’ll know better by mid-Summer or Fall. After all, his job description does include “ability to herd cats”.

Comment by RNUG Tuesday, Feb 2, 21 @ 4:18 pm
wait, what? Madigan called him? on a cell phone? whose? i didn’t think had one of those.

Comment by obiter dictum Tuesday, Feb 2, 21 @ 4:31 pm
Staying as “of counsel” with his law firm is an unforced error from the get go as far as I am concerned. It looks bad and is contrary to what he had previously hinted was appropriate. That’s my initial take and beyond that it’s way too early to tell. I sincerely do wish him well as he navigates the rocky shoals of his new position and relationships.

Comment by Responsa Tuesday, Feb 2, 21 @ 4:54 pm
He loves nepotism just like Madigan

Comment by Anon E Moose Tuesday, Feb 2, 21 @ 4:55 pm
After the dust settled a majority of his colleagues felt he was the right person for the job. This is going to be an exceptionally challenging legislative session and he’s gotta navigate

Comment by Andrade’s Social Media Studio Tuesday, Feb 2, 21 @ 5:32 pm
Responsa needs to take a closer look at the General Assembly. Welch was a partner in a major law firm before becoming Speaker. After becoming Speaker, he changed role voluntarily, and from what I read it’s very similar to Durkin’s role at his law firm. Welch has two small kids. Expecting someone to walk away from their jobs is not a fair expectation nor is staying there an unforced error. It’s called balancing your responsibilities. Looks like the guy is trying to do the right thing by the State and his family.

Comment by Take a closer look Tuesday, Feb 2, 21 @ 5:57 pm
I have met with Rep. Welch on several occasions in Springfield (in his office and under the dome) and have found him to be someone who takes the time to listen and then discuss. He was never “too busy” to spend a few minutes in discussion. He also accepted the invitation to meet with an advocacy organization I am member of, came to our meeting, and spent several hours with us. We had no money to donate, just issues to discuss.

Hopefully, he continues in that same vein as he leads the House; that would be a breath of fresh air.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Tuesday, Feb 2, 21 @ 6:05 pm
MJM part 2

Comment by Nieva Tuesday, Feb 2, 21 @ 6:18 pm
He’s coming into the job in the middle of unique challenges for Illinois and the chamber. His skills are considerable, and how he adapts to those challenges over the next year will tell us a lot about how his time as Speaker will be remembered.

Comment by Rich Hill Tuesday, Feb 2, 21 @ 7:15 pm
Busy, tired and stressed.

Comment by Al Tuesday, Feb 2, 21 @ 7:51 pm
I want to be positive but I’m concerned that he did not quit his law firm like Harmon. Between that and the lobbyist ethics training for this year being 2 pages to (maybe) scroll through, it’s a wonder IL voters think ethics in Springfield is an issue…

Comment by Advocate Tuesday, Feb 2, 21 @ 8:26 pm
TheInvisibleman-thank you for tabula rasa.

Comment by Trapped in the 'burbs Tuesday, Feb 2, 21 @ 9:26 pm