Illinois House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch
State Government: Agencies/Departments/Divisions | Elected State Legislators
Recent News About Illinois House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch
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More GOP candidates join court case vs IL Dems over 'candidate slating' ballot blocking law
Democrats told a Springfield judge she needs to can the case, saying the changes to the election rules in the middle of the 2024 election cycle don't violate anyone's rights, and judges have no place deciding if state lawmakers abided by the constitution in deciding how candidates can get on the ballot -
'Anti-democracy' law blocked: GOP candidates win court order stopping Dems from using new law to keep them off ballot
A Springfield judge said she believed four prospective Republican state legislative candidates were likely to win their case, accusing the state's Democratic supermajority of unconstitutionally using a hastily enacted law to keep them and other GOP challengers off the ballot in November -
IL gun ban foes ask SCOTUS to review IL Sup Ct ruling; Petition says two Dem justices who refused recusal defied high court
State Rep. Dan Caulkins and other gun owners from Macon County say the U.S. Supreme Court needs to undo the Illinois high court's ruling on the "assault weapons" ban, because they could not receive a fair hearing when two justices, who already were endorsed by anti-gun groups, got millions of campaign cash from Gov. Pritzker -
Judge to decide if SAFE-T Act tramples IL constitution, people's rights, or if prosecutors' lawsuit mere 'policy dispute'
A Kankakee County judge said he will rule on the constitutional challenge to the sweeping criminal justice reforms under the so-called SAFE-T Act by Dec. 28 -
Will Co. State's Attorney sues Pritzker, other top IL Dems, says SAFE-T Act violates state constitution
Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow says it takes Democratic lawmakers and Gov. JB Pritzker can't simply abolish cash bail without amending the state constitution. He further says Democrats trampled constitutional procedures in passing massive bill in the dead of night -
IL legislation would OK 'predatory lending practices' in third-party lawsuit funding, boost costs for all, biz groups warn
SB1099, the so-called Consumer Legal Funding Act, would produce even more lawsuits, that take longer to settle, while allowing lawsuit investors to charge 18% interest rates, assessed every 6 months, to people borrowing money to fund lawsuits, business groups say -
Judges say Dems' partisan power grab in drawing new maps didn't also violate Voting Rights Act
Democrat mapmakers were "motivated by partisan political considerations," a panel of federal judges said, so it doesn't matter that they divided Latino and Black populations up among various districts, rather than maximizing majority minority districts -
IL Dems, challengers spar in court over whose map would result in more Latino, Black lawmakers elected
Republicans and Latino and Black advocates told a panel of federal judges that Illinois Democrats drew a new state legislative district map solely to protect Democratic incumbents and boost their party power, stepping on Black and Latino voting rights in the process. -
Judges: Democrats' June state district maps unconstitutional; New September maps still under review
A panel of federal judges said Democrats' decision to use "population estimates," rather than Census data resulted in unbalanced districts, under a plan rushed through simply to retain firm grip on power -
Latino voters sue over Dem-created IL district maps, say use of flawed data violates 'one-person, one-vote principles'
A second lawsuit in as many days, this time filed by a prominent Latino advocacy organization, asserts the state's Democratic lawmakers used flawed data to make new legislative district maps, resulting in unequal districts that violate voters' constitutional equal protection rights. -
Dems' IL district maps challenged; GOP leaders: 'Population estimates' result in unequal, discriminatory districts
The lawsuit filed in federal court says the maps pushed through by Illinois Democrats wrongly rely on survey estimates, not actual Census data. -
Welch 'steps back' from partner role at Ancel Glink, becomes 'Of Counsel;' What does change mean?
New Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch has taken on the role of 'Of Counsel' at the Ancel Glink law firm, but the continuing relationship with the firm that represents local governments across Illinois could raise questions. -
Reform advocates hope change in IL Speaker's office brings more than just new tone
Those who represent businesses and employers in Illinois say they hope the switch from former Speaker Madigan to Speaker Chris Welch will help create opportunities for cooperation and reform, despite Welch's lockstep support for Madigan through his legislative career.