The governor’s office said line-item reductions of $192,700 were made after a review found that cost-of-living pay raises granted to constitutional officers, legislators and some appointed officials exceeded 5%, which they said was unconstitutional.
Read MoreCHICAGO (WLS) -- Governor JB Pritzker signed the state budget into law in Chicago Wednesday.
The spending package is the largest budget in state history, over $50 billion. It includes major boosts for education, and health care and childcare. It also invests in law enforcement and measures meant to help the homeless.
Read MoreIt will be up to Gov. J.B. Pritzker to slice in half spending on health care for undocumented immigrants, and Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch said he’s confident the governor can do it.
Read MoreMinority representation among executives at Chicago’s 50 largest public companies has increased over the past 10 years, with local numbers ahead of national statistics, according to advocacy organization Chicago United.
Read MoreSPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker and Democratic leaders announced Wednesday they’ve agreed to a framework for next year’s roughly $50 billion state spending plan, even as negotiations continued in the final stretch of lawmakers’ already-extended spring legislative session.
Read MoreToday, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, Senior Advisor to the President and Director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, and Ambassador Susan Rice, Assistant to the President and Domestic Policy Advisor, met with the historic five Black Speakers of the House from state legislatures across the country: Speaker Chris Welch of Illinois, Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross of Maine, Speaker Adrienne Jones of Maryland, Speaker Joe Tate of Michigan, and Speaker Carl Heastie of New York.
Read MoreThe speakers from the states of New York, Maryland, Illinois, Maine and Michigan will meet with Domestic Policy Advisor Susan Rice and others to discuss “common policy priorities."
Read MoreIllinois’ leadership has shifted, with a fresh group of 177 lawmakers sworn in to office on Wednesday.
The 103rd General Assembly has more Asian Americans, the first Muslim member in 23-year-old state Rep. Nabeela Syed, D-Inverness, and a record number of Democratic House members, led by Illinois’ first Black House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch.
Read MoreSPRINGFIELD (WGEM) - The 103rd General Assembly is officially underway as Illinois state lawmakers were sworn in Wednesday afternoon. Gov. JB Pritzker presided over the Senate inauguration and Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias led the House ceremony.
Read MoreSPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois’ new Legislature got underway Wednesday with pledges of selflessness laden with the symbolism of America’s Civil War president, the wisdom of a recently departed mother and a young son and the Hebrew word that Moses used to answer God’s call to lead the Exodus.
Read MoreCHICAGO - Juggling a coffee, a briefcase and his cellphone, Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch was making his way through the metal detectors two years ago at the Springfield convention center where the Illinois House was conducting business when he got a call from a phone number he didn’t recognize.
Read MoreIllinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, who recently announced he has the support for another term as House speaker, says he looks forward to governing with an even larger supermajority than he had during his first two years.
Read MoreIllinois House Speaker Chris Welch teased a ban on assault weapons, more affordable college tuition, and tweaks to the SAFE-T Act law that abolishes cash bail.
Read MoreIn the midst of a heated election season a huge piece of legislation is causing a lot of controversy in Illinois.
The legislation covers everything from police use of force to equipping officers with body cameras. However, it’s a portion of the legislation that will eliminate cash bond on Jan. 1 that’s getting the most attention.
Read MoreST. LOUIS — Baseball heaven, St. Louis.
The venue, of course, was Busch Stadium. But it wasn't Adam Wainwright on the mound or Yadier Molina behind the plate this past Monday.
Read MoreBLOOMINGDALE | A Bloomingdale resident received a special visit in May from his role model, IL. House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, upon receiving the news he tested in the top 10 percent of students his age in the state.
Read MoreSPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WGEM) - More than 900 hundred miles from the Illinois Statehouse, House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch made a visit to the New York General Assembly, returning a visit made by Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie in March of this year.
Read MoreSPRINGFIELD (WGEM) - Ghost guns, constructed firearms produced either by 3D printer or parts bought online, are unregistered, “untraceable” weapons. Now they’re banned in Illinois.
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