Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch joined “Chicago Tonight” for a one-on-one conversation about the spring legislative session, recently passed $50 billion state budget and asylum seekers.
, which “made Illinois the most welcoming state in the country” by limiting Illinois law enforcement agencies from cooperating with federal immigration agents if federal officials don’t have a warrant — a restriction intended to make undocumented immigrants feel comfortable cooperating with police without fear of deportation.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson had sought significantly more in state support, with an ask of up to $200 million. The budget also provides for 5.5% raises for elected officials, including members of the General Assembly, who will now be paid a base of nearly $90,000 with those in leadership making more.
“I know that the Republicans are trying to make it out to more than what it is,” Welch said. “But our lawyers have advised that everything we’ve done is proper.” “Regardless of our weekly meetings, Speaker Welch, you gave a false hope for a new day,” House Minority Leader Tony McCombie said during the budget debate in the wee hours of Saturday morning. “The House Republicans were denied participation in many things, but most importantly, this year’s budget process.”
Welch doubled down on that stance Wednesday. He said McCombie’s assertion that she was left out is “not a truthful statement. She was performing for her caucus” and for “folks back home in her district. The reality is, I met with her weekly since the beginning of session. And we also had Republicans as a part of our working process. The budget was being worked on in a very bipartisan way.”
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