SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (NEXSTAR) — Speaker Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch recapped his first session as the leader of the Illinois House on Capitol Connection.
In a one-on-one interview, Welch discussed the state budget, ethics, energy negotiations, redistricting, and explained how he’s different than his predecessor.
Read MoreIllinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and the super-majority he now leads passed a bevy of bills during the first legislative session with Welch at the helm. Democrats say he did it with a “refreshing” collaborative approach. But Republicans say, for them the new boss is the same as the old boss.
Read MoreSPRINGFIELD – Illinois lawmakers are staying open for business as they await a possible deal on a sweeping energy proposal that would keep the state’s fleet of nuclear power plants online while providing incentives for development of more wind and solar generation.
Read MoreIt’s T minus 15 days for Illinois state lawmakers to get everything they need done this legislative session.
As always, the budget is priority one.
Read MoreFormer Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan held a tight grip on the gavel for 36 years – a term only interrupted by a two-year blip in the ‘90s.
Read MoreThe site of the former Hobo store, 7630 Roosevelt Rd., will be turned into the one of the biggest COVID-19 vaccination sites in the state on March 26, offering 1,000 shots per day to start, Monday through Saturday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Read MoreCHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Governor JB Pritzker joined state and Cook County leaders Monday morning to announce a new mass vaccination site in Forest Park set to open Friday.
Read MoreIn his first appearance before the City Club of Chicago since becoming speaker, Welch laid out his top four legislative priorities, a list that he said “kind of set” itself.
Read MoreThe omnibus legislation, which was drafted by the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, addresses early childhood, primary, secondary and higher education.
Read MoreOK, so new Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch still is in the early days of his first big turn on the public stage.
He told the Economic Club of Chicago last week that Gov. J.B. Pritzker should try a do-over on the graduated income tax — and then, in a forum the very next day, said he was just “spitballing” those remarks.
Read MoreThe Honorable Emanuel "Chris" Welch, Speaker of the House, Illinois House or Representatives, addressed the Club as part of its Chicago Conversations series on Feb. 24, 2021. The conversation was moderated by WTTW's Amanda Vinicky.
Read MoreIllinois House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch sits down with WGN-TV Political Reporter Tahman Bradley to talk about the state budget, redistricting, and ushering in a new era at the statehouse.
Read MoreOver the eventful past year, the Chicagoans in this ranking have stepped up in a big way, wielding newfound clout and making change happen.
Read MoreSPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WICS/WRSP) — Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch, D-Westchester, is ready to turn a new leaf in the Illinois House of Representatives.
Read MoreThe new rules establish a new term limit of roughly 10 years on the speaker and House minority leader, allow for remote legislating, and ensure bills that are submitted to the Rules Committee in odd-numbered years are sent to a substantive committee or the appropriations committee for consideration.
Read MoreNewly-elected Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch talks with WBBM Political Editor Craig Dellimore about the challenges that await him as he takes the gavel from Michael Madigan. He discusses setting a more bi-partisan tone in the House, and dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, economic recovery, the budget, ethics, redistricting and more.
Read MoreSPRINGFIELD — 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.
Read MoreWhen Emanuel "Chris" Welch was a student at Proviso West High School in the late 1980s his classmates liked him and were impressed by him. He was known as a good athlete, a smooth talker, and was class president all four years in high school. Classmates expected him to go far.
Read MoreSPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WLS) -- One day after making history by being the first Black person elected as Speaker of the Illinois House, Emanuel "Chris" Welch sat down for a one-on-one interview with ABC 7.
While the Hillside Democrat said he may be ready to work with Republicans, he said he is also putting them on notice about who is in charge.
