>> ILLINOIS LEGISLATORS ARE BACK HOME AFTER THEIR ANNUAL END OF A WHIRLWIND WE SAW LEGISLATORS PASS A BUDGET AND BILLS THAT DO EVERYTHING FROM CREATING DIGITAL DRIVER'S LICENSES TO GIVING CONSUMERS GREATER HEALTH INSURANCE PROTECTIONS.

NONE OF WHAT GOES ON IN SPRINGFIELD HAPPENS WITHOUT INVOLVEMENT FROM A FEW KEY LEADERS, INCLUDING OUR GUEST.

THAT'S ILLINOIS HOUSE SPEAKER EMANUEL CHRIS WELCH.

THE ACTION DID NOT STOP IN SPRINGFIELD UPON ARRIVING HOME.

WELCH WAS SERVED WITH THE LAWSUIT BY MEMBERS OF HIS OWN STAFF.

NOW JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT ALL OF THAT IS THE SPEAKER OF THE ILLINOIS HOUSE EMANUEL, CHRIS WELCH.

THANKS FOR JOINING US NOW.

WE JUST HEARD FROM BRANDEIS THAT THE BEARS AND THE SOX ARE GETTING A NEW NETWORK.

BUT SO FAR, NO NEW STATE HELP FOR FRESH STADIUMS.

WHAT IF ANYTHING, CAN THEY DO TO CONVINCE YOU ANOTHER LEGISLATIVE LEADERS TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN?

COME FALL?

>> I GOT TO TELL AS WE'VE SAID TO THE BEARS OVER AND OVER AGAIN TO THE WHITE SOX AND ALSO TO THE CHICAGO RED STARS.

THERE'S JUST NO USE TAXPAYER FUNDING TO FUND STADIUMS FOR BILLIONAIRES.

>> EVEN AFTER THE ELECTION YOU KNOW, EVEN AFTER THE ELECTION, I JUST THINK IT, YOU KNOW IT'S THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON KITCHEN TABLE ISSUES.

>> PEOPLE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEIR GROCERIES OR AFFORDABLE THE RENT IS AFFORDABLE.

YOU KNOW THAT THEY CAN HAVE A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD.

THE LAST THING THEY WANT US TO BE TALKING ABOUT STADIUMS FOR SPORTS TEAMS.

>> WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET IN JUST A BIT, BUT FIRST BECAUSE THIS IS FRESH JUSTICE OR FRIDAY WITH THAT LAWSUIT.

AND FOR THOSE WHO AWARE, IT IS A GROUP OF EMPLOYEES POLICY WORK FOR THE STATE UNDER HOUSE DEMOCRATS THAT ARE TRYING TO UNIONIZE SUING SAYING EU AS SPEAKER HAVE EFFECTIVELY BLOCKS THEM, END QUOTE, UNLAWFULLY CREATED A CLIMATE OF FEAR.

NOW THIS COMES YOU ANOTHER STATE DEMOCRATS, OF COURSE, PASSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PROTECTING THE RIGHT TO COLLECTIVELY BARGAIN.

HOW DOES THAT SQUARE?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, LET ME TELL YOU, I HAVE NOT BEEN SERVED WITH A LAWSUIT YET.

IF THERE IS A LAWSUIT THAT'S BEEN FILED, WE HAVE NOT SEEN IT YET.

OFFICIALLY.

I WILL TELL YOU THAT.

>> READ IT ON OFFICIALLY EVERETT ON.

IT'S BEEN ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

>> BUT I HADN'T SERVE ANYTHING YET.

CERTAINLY IF WE GET SIR, WILL A DEAL WITH IT AT THAT TIME?

YOU KNOW, MY RECORD BEEN PRETTY CLEAR LABOR.

I PICKEN LABOR ORGANIZATION.

THEY RECOGNIZE ME FROM MY WORK ON ON LABOR RIGHTS.

I BELIEVE DEEPLY IN THE RIGHT TO ORGANIZE.

I BELIEVE IN UNIONS MY FAMILY WOULDN'T BE WHERE WE ARE TODAY WITHOUT UNIONS, BUT THE LAW AS IT CURRENTLY EXISTS, DOES NOT ALLOW ME TO DO WHAT THEY'RE ASKING.

SO WHAT HAVE WHAT HAVE I DONE?

I FILED A BILL MY NAME I SPONSORED IRAN.

IT AND IT PASSED THE HOUSE OVERWHELMINGLY THAT BILL WOULD ALLOW US TO CHANGE THE LAW AND GIVE THEM THE ABILITY TO DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.

THAT BILL CURRENTLY SITS IN THE SENATE.

AND SO I WOULD LOVE FOR THAT.

PASSED THE SENATE HAD TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK BECOME LAW BECAUSE THEN WE WOULD BE ABLE NOT EMPLOYEES IN THE HOUSE THAT RIGHT WOULD BE ABLE TO GIVE EMPLOYEES IN THE SENATE AND THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE BUILDING.

THAT ABILITY COURSE CAN'T FORCE THE SENATE TO DO ANYTHING.

BUT YOU CAN HAVE CONVERSATIONS.

POWERFUL LEADER.

>> GET WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO TRY TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN?

WELL.

>> I WILL TELL YOU SINCE 2021, WE HAVE DONE A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT HAVE IMPROVED THE CONDITIONS IN THE HOUSE.

CAN THEY BE BETTER?

THEY CAN ALWAYS BE BETTER TO PASS LAW.

CHANGE MAY BE THINGS IN THE HOUSE.

I THINK YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT GETTING MORE STRUCTURE TO WORK TIMES AND >> INCREASES IN PAY.

BUT HAVE YOU DONE ANYTHING TO TRY TO MOVE THE SENATE ON THAT LEGISLATION?

AS ASIAN, I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR SENATE HE KNOWS MY POSITION ON THE BILL.

I'M A BIG SUPPORTER OF THAT ISSUE.

AND >> CERTAINLY THERE'S THAT BILL AND OTHER BILLS THAT HAVE PASSED THE HOUSE THAT HAD BEEN MOVED IN THE SENATE.

THAT'S A POINT OF FRUSTRATION THAT WE HAVE EVERY YEAR.

WHAT I THINK THOSE EMPLOYEES SHOULD DO.

SIMILAR TO THE CONVERSATIONS THEY'VE HAD WITH ME.

THEY SHOULD CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS IN THE SENATE.

A BILL BECOMES LAW WHEN IT PASSES THE HOUSE, THE SENATE AND IS SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR.

AND I TELL YOU, I'M A BIG SUPPORTER OF THAT ISSUE.

I STOOD WITH THEM.

I SAT WITH HIM COMMITTEE AND ADVOCATED FOR THEM AND I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE JUST A FINAL QUESTION HERE.

DOES THIS ISSUE PRESENT ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT JUST DEMOCRATIC IDENTITY?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

I THINK THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, I PUT MY NAME ON THE BILL AND PASSED IT.

IT'S CONSISTENT WITH OUR VALUES.

BELIEVE IN THE RIGHT TO ORGANIZE.

AND THAT'S WHY I SUPPORTED THE BILL.

>> WANT TO MOVE ON TO THE BUDGET BECAUSE THIS IS A BIG DEAL.

AND WHEN YOU ARE CREATED, YOU SAID TODAY WILL BE THE LAST TIME.

I TALK ABOUT US AS DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS BECAUSE I WANT TO TALK ABOUT BEING UNITED WITH BUT I'M GOING TO PLAY HERE, A REPUBLICAN WHO JUST LAST WEEK DURING THE BUDGET VOTE, SPOKE SPOKE UP, FEELING OTHERWISE.

>> YOU PASS THESE RULES.

THESE ARE YOUR RULES.

I THINK IT SHOULD BE CLEAR TO EVERYONE IN THIS STATE.

WHAT THIS SUPER MAJORITY IS WILLING TO DO TO RAM A TAX INCREASE DOWN THE THROATS OF THE CITIZENS OF ILLINOIS.

>> IN THE MORNING.

>> RESPOND TO THAT.

WELL, THAT WAS SPRINGFIELD THEATER.

THAT'S POLITICAL THEATER.

THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED ON THE FLORIDA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EVERY YEAR.

THIS TIME OF YEAR.

BUT WHAT YOU SAW IS A REPUBLICAN LEADER ADVOCATING FOR CORPORATIONS LIKE REPUBLICANS DO TALKING ABOUT TAX TAXES ON SPORTS, BETTING COMPANIES THAT AREN'T EVEN BASED IN ILLINOIS AND BGT WE'RE NAMING TERMINALS.

VIDEO GAMING TERMINALS WERE TALKING ABOUT TAXING CORPORATIONS THAT CAN TO PAY MORE TO HELP US DO THE THINGS THAT WE DO FOR THE HOMELESS TO HELP HOUSING TO HELP OUR SCHOOLS AND CONSISTENT WITH WHAT THEY'VE DONE FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

THEY STOOD AGAINST THOSE THINGS.

>> AND YET IT WASN'T JUST REPUBLICANS.

IT TOOK 3 TIMES FOR DEMOCRATS TO PASS THE REVENUE PART OF THIS BUDGET PACKAGE.

YOU SHOULD HAVE A SPARE 17 VOTES THERE.

SO WHAT WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S SAUSAGE, MAKING SAUSAGE MAKING IN SPRINGFIELD IS YOU EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAW.

>> THESE RESTRUCTURE ROLL OUR STRUCTURE ROLL CALL.

WE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT THE NUMBERS WOULD BE.

>> WRONG WELL, YOU KNOW.

>> IT'S SAUSAGE, MAKING SAUCES MAKING THINGS ARE UNPREDICTABLE.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAD SOME EMERGENCIES THAT CUT CAME THINGS THAT WERE UNEXPECTED THAT DID COME UP.

BUT WE ALWAYS HAD A EXTRA VOTES IN OUR BACK POCKET.

SO YOU PREPARED FOR CONTINGENCIES.

SHOWING THAT SORT WITH THOSE NUMBERS, JUST DESPAIR.

MINIMUM NUMBER OF VOTES IN WAS A REVENUE PACKAGE THAT DESIGNED TO NOT FRUSTRATE VOTERS.

AS YOU TALKED ABOUT CORPORATIONS OUT OF STATE COMPANIES, NO INCOME TAX HIKE.

WHY RESISTANCE?

WHY WAS IT SO HARD TO GET DEMOCRATS ON BOARD WITH A REVENUE PACKAGE THAT SHOULD HAVE FROM THE OUTSIDER'S PERSPECTIVE?

PRETTY EASY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

SOME PRETTY POWERFUL CORPORATIONS.

I THINK THEY HAD EVERY LOBBYIST IN SPRINGFIELD ON THEIR PAYROLL.

>> AND THEN THEY WERE CONSISTENTLY WORKING AGAINST THE REVENUE PACKAGE FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS OF MAY >> AND WHEN YOU HAVE THAT, IT CAN MAKE THINGS A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT.

BUT I THINK AT THE END OF THE THE LISTEN TO THE FACTS AND THEY VOTED AND THIS IS A BALANCED BUDGETS ARE 6 BALANCED BUDGET IN A ROW.

ORGANIZATIONS ARE ALREADY PRAISING A ANOTHER BALANCED BUDGET THAT REDUCES OUR MUNI DEBT.

FOR THIS IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF AND IT'S GOING TO LEAD TO ADDITIONAL CREDIT CREDIT RATING INCREASES.

NOW TO THAT, ACTUALLY, WANT TO HEAR FROM A MEMBER OF YOUR OWN PARTY WHO IS CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT'S TO COME WHEN IT COMES TO THE BUDGET.

>> BILLION DOLLAR DEFICITS PREDICTED IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

WITH THAT, HERE'S DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE FRED CRESPO.

>> AND AT THIS RATE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE'RE GOING TO RUN OUT OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO SPEND.

NOW.

I'VE HEARD SOME SAY THAT.

A BUDGET IS A MORAL DOCUMENT.

SURE IS.

BUT ALSO IT ARGUE THAT WE HAVE A MORAL OBLIGATION.

SO LOOK AFTER TAXPAYERS.

>> IT'S A TAX HIKE THAT WILL BE MORE DIRECTLY IMPACTING INDIVIDUALS IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, LET ME SAY, I THINK CHAIRMAN CHRIS PAUL IS AN EXPERIENCED YOU KNOW, I CONTINUE TO LEARN FROM EACH OF OUR COLLEAGUES IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND HE'S CERTAINLY ONE OF THEM YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS WAS A TOUGH BUDGET YEAR NEXT YEAR IS GOING TO BE ANOTHER TOUGH YEAR.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO DEMOCRATS, THE PARTY IN CHARGE, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.

WE'VE BEEN FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE COMPASSION AS WELL.

EVERY YEAR PRESENTS A NEW CHALLENGE.

AND I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO TACKLE NEXT YEAR'S CHALLENGES AS WELL.

IS THAT GOING TO TAKE MORE REVENUE, THOUGH?

WELL, I THINK WHAT WE DID THIS YEAR IS A BIG START AND WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AND SEE WHERE WE YOU KNOW, COME APRIL OF NEXT YEAR AND WILL MAKE DETERMINATIONS WHAT HAPPENED IN MAY THAT I GOT ALL YOUR HEAD.

SO LET'S FOCUS MORE ON THIS YEAR'S BUDGET AND A BIG POINT OF CONTENTION IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY STATEWIDE AND IN CHICAGO HAS BEEN.

>> WHAT FEELS LIKE TO HAVING THEIR NEEDS LEAPFROGGED BY MONEY GOING TO MIGRANTS AND SORT OF EXACERBATING LONG-STANDING FEELINGS OF OF NEGLECT AGAIN, PARTICULARLY IN BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS.

HOW HAVE YOU DEALT WITH THOSE TENSIONS?

WELL, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO DO IS GET OUT AND POINT TO PEOPLE WHAT IS ACTUALLY IN THE BUDGET.

THIS BUDGET TAKES CARE OF FOLKS ALL ACROSS THE STATE.

>> YOU KNOW, ILLINOIS IS A WELCOMING STATE.

WE CAN'T IGNORE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THIS COUNTRY.

THERE'S A CRISIS THAT'S BEING CREATED.

REPUBLICANS NATIONALLY?

THE GOVERNOR OF TEXAS IS USING HUMANS AS PAWNS AND IT PRESENTS A SITUATION THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH HERE IN A WELCOMING STATE LIKE ILLINOIS.

>> IF THE 180 MILLION DOLLARS IS NOT ENOUGH.

ARE DEMOCRATS PREPARED TO GIVE MORE AND WHY THAT OVER OTHER NEEDS WHAT WE BELIEVE THAT 182 MILLION IS ENOUGH AND CERTAINLY IF WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE TABLE, LOOK AT THIS.

WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT IT.

THAT'S WHAT BUDGETING IS.

BUT WE BELIEVE ALL THE FACTS HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO US THAT WE'RE MEETING THOSE NEEDS AND MORE.

HOW BIG OF OBSTACLE WAS THAT GETTING THE BUDGET PASSED?

182 MILLION ANYTIME YOU DO A BUDGET.

IT'S IT'S A CHALLENGE.

AND, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE WANTS MORE.

AND THIS WAS A YEAR THAT THEY WANT MORE.

WE HAD LESS.

AND THIS WAS YEAR THAT WE HAD TO SAY NO MORE THAN WE'VE WE'VE EVER HAD IN THE LAST 4, 5, YEARS.

AND EVERY BUDGETS AND CHALLENGE NEXT YEAR IS GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE WITH OUR DIVERSE CAUCUS IS TALK THROUGH THE ISSUES AND WE END UP IN A GOOD PLACE LIKE WE DID A BALANCED BUDGET THAT'S GOING TO LEAD TO MORE CREDIT UPGRADES.

>> NOW YOU LIVE IN COOK COUNTY.

SO I WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU MAKE OF STATE'S ATTORNEY KIM FOXX PLAN TO NOT PROSECUTE GUN DRUG OR OTHER CRIMES THAT STEM FROM POLICE STOPS THAT BEGIN AS TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS.

MINOR TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS.

>> YOU KNOW, I HAVEN'T REALLY READ MUCH ABOUT THAT YET.

I KNOW THAT IT'S BEEN IN THE NEWS WHILE WE WERE IN SPRINGFIELD.

I LIKE TO DIG A LITTLE BIT DEEPER INTO IT.

ACTUALLY TALKED TO THE STATE'S ABOUT HER RATIONAL BEHIND THE POLICY.

BUT RIGHT NOW, I JUST HAVEN'T REALLY GIVEN MUCH THOUGHT TO IT.

>> WHAT ABOUT ALSO IS COOK COUNTY RESIDENT, REGARDLESS THE EXACT PLAN TO MERGE THE CTA, METRA AND PACE.

WHATEVER COMES OF THAT, THE AGENCIES ARE LOOKING AT A $730, 730 MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET HOLE SOON.

HOW IS ILLINOIS GOING TO COME UP WITH THE MONEY TO FILL WELL, THAT'S ONE OF THOSE CHALLENGES WE KNOW IS GOING TO BE THERE FOR US NEXT YEAR.

AND THAT'S ONE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT SOME EXPERTS ARE CAUCUS >> THAT ARE ALREADY LOOKING AT IT.

THAT MEETING AND KAM BUCKNER ARE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT TRANSIT.

THERE ARE SOME FOLKS THAT I'M LISTENING TO.

WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THE SUMMER THE REALLY DOING SOME WORK TO PURPOSE FOR NEXT YEAR.

BUT THAT'S ONE OF OUR MANY CHALLENGES AHEAD.

>> MATTER THAT IS HEADING TO GOVERNOR PRITZKER'S DESK IS GOING TO LIFT ALL CAMPAIGN LIMITS DURING PRIMARIES THAT COME FROM POLITICAL PARTIES AND REPORTED GROUPS SAY THAT THIS IS JUST THE VERY SORT OF ISSUE THAT GALVANIZED YOUR PREDECESSOR, FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER MICHAEL MADIGAN'S POWER.

WHY MAKE THAT CHANGE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, IT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE SENATE PRESIDENT AND THE WE TALKED IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO KNOW WHERE THE MONEY'S COMING FROM.

WE FILE REPORTS IT'S THE SUN IS SHINING IN ON THE PROCESS AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS 1, ONE OF THE CHANGES THAT WAS AND WE AGREED UPON BUT WHY?

I MEAN, IT IS DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH YOU?

OF COURSE, PENTALY YOU ARE ILLINOIS'S FIRST BLACK HOUSE SPEAKER, BUT YOU ALSO SPENT A LOT OF MONEY DURING THE PRIMARY.

>> TO REMOVE FROM OFFICE.

IT LONGEST-SERVING BLACK MEMBER OF THE HOUSE.

THAT'S REPRESENTATIVE MARY FLOWERS.

>> EXCEPT FOR YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS I TALK ABOUT WHAT OUR CAUCUS IS, YOU KNOW, >> PLAYING AN INFINITE GAME AND WE'RE PLANNING FOR THE GAME.

THE GOAL OF THE GAME IS TO MAKE THINGS BETTER.

THAT WAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS GAME THAT'S GOING MAKE THE HOUSE BETTER MAKE OUR CAUCUS BETTER.

AND I THINK EVENTUALLY MAKE THAT DISTRICT BETTER IN THE ENTIRE STATE.

SOMETIMES WE CAN OVERSTATE.

I YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S A SITUATION WHERE I THINK A CHANGE WAS NEEDED AND OCCASIONALLY GOING TO DO THAT IS CALL NEXT ESSENTIAL THAT'S WHAT WAS NEEDED AS WE PLAY THEM FOR THE GAME AND NOT TO OVERSTAY ARE WELCOME.

BUT VERY BRIEFLY, THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION IS COMING UP.

YOU'RE GOING TO BE DOING WHAT THEN?

>> WELL, I'M I'M A DELEGATE.

I'M GOING TO BE SUPPORTING VICE PRES.

A VICE PRESIDENT, KAMALA HARRIS AND PRESIDENT BIDEN TO GET RE-ELECTED SO WE CAN KEEP MOVING THIS COUNTRY FORWARD AND HOSTING A PARTY WITH ALL THE OTHER BLACK