Illinois Legislature to Meet for First Time in Months
Hand sanitizer stations were placed throughout the Illinois Capitol Building earlier in the COVID-19 pandemic. Brian Mackey/Illinois Public Radio
Members of the Illinois General Assembly are set to return to Springfield this week. It’s the first scheduled meeting of the Illinois House and Senate since March 5.
House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President Don Harmon have called a special session, with an agenda limited to a relatively narrow set of issues: the COVID-19 pandemic, the state budget, the election later this year, and a few other topics.
The setting will be unusual, too: the Senate will meet in the Capitol building, but the House has rented out a convention center in downtown Springfield, so lawmakers can meet while practicing social distancing. Public access will be somewhat limited, too.
We spoke with two members of the Illinois House of Representatives about the policy, politics, and procedure of this week’s special session.
Guests:
Rep. Jay Hoffman, a Democrat from Swansea and assistant majority leader
Rep. Tom Demmer, a Republican from Dixon and deputy minority leader