Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch on the policy and process of the state budget
Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch, D-Hillside, testifies before the Executive Committee on his legislation to allow legislative staff to unionize, Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023, in Springfield, Ill. John O'Connor / AP
Today, we’re going to focus on the Illinois General Assembly. On Wednesday morning, members of the House of Representatives passed a spending and taxation plan for the budget year that begins July 1st. The package includes more than $53 billion in discretionary spending and puts in place some $750 million in tax increases on things like sports betting companies, stores and other businesses.
We are joined by Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch.
First, we'll discuss the policy and process of the state budget.
Next, we'll talk about problems that arose in the process and claims from Republicans saying they were not invited to budget-making meetings.
Then, we'll end by talking about some legislation that did not pass. For example, a bill aimed at increasing training and changing procedures in the Prisoner Review Board and another that would have transferred additional land to the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation.
GUEST:
Chris Welch
D-Hillside, Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives