By GREG BISHOP
Illinois Radio Network
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (IRN) — Legislative leaders from both sides of the aisle have concerns for what lies ahead with an eye on possibly coming back before the fall veto session.
Legislators wrapped up spring session early Sunday morning. In her final floor speech before adjournment, House Minority Leader Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, said the policies that majority Democrats approved will have consequences.
“The outcomes of this session are well predicted to be disastrous,” McCombie said.
Legislators approved more than 430 bills during the tail end of spring session. Among them are the state budget, which includes tax and fee increases, changes to pharmacy benefit managers, measures impacting gun owners including requiring firearms be locked up in certain circumstances, and measures around access to abortion medications.
“Speaker, you are on a path that ensures leadership at the highest levels will have many challenges,” McCombie said.
House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, said Democrats will continue to fight for their priorities and he expects continued loggerheads with the Trump administration.
“We will be vigilant. We will be compassionate. And if Washington’s agenda warrants, yes, we will be back here to continue that effort,” Welch said.
After voting “no” on the state’s largest spending plan in state history late Saturday evening, Senate Minority Leader John Curran, R-Downers Grove, thanked Senate Democrats for their professionalism, despite having policy differences with the Republican minority.
“Everyone here works very professionally and that is so incredibly important, and you leave the politics to the amateurs,” Curran said. “So thank you.”
Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, also praised the professionalism. But, Harmon said to prepare to possibly come back soon.
“We wrap up our work for the spring but we’re not going out of business,” Harmon said. “We’ll be back when the world requires us to be back. But for the next weeks or months, the world is safe because the General Assembly is not in session.”
Legislators are expected back during fall veto session, which hasn’t been scheduled yet. It’s possible there could also be a special session called for sometime this summer.
