>> State lawmakers are returning to Springfield this week.

The two-week veto session was already on the books for legislators, but now it comes on the heels of Donald Trump's reelection and Democratic leaders who kept their veto proof majorities in both the House and Senate are discussing what if any actions the state may take to, quote, shore up protections ahead of a second Trump presidency.

Joining us to talk more about this is speaker of the Illinois House Emanuel, Chris Welch, Speaker Welt.

Welcome back to Chicago tonight.

thank you for having me.

So last Tuesday was a good night for Democrats in Illinois nationally, not necessarily so much.

What's the mood like in your caucus right now?

>> It's bittersweet when were Democrats were obviously please, by the fact that we're able to protect the great 78.

All of our colleagues are returning for another 2 years and were able to continue to work.

But we were disappointed.

You know, we support Kamala Harris for president and clearly the country.

I thought otherwise.

awful message to Democrats nationwide.

>> As we mentioned, we've heard this talk about so-called Trump proofing, some some of Illinois's protections.

What specific items are on your list?

>> Well, you know, Nick, fortunately for us in Illinois, we have done a really good job.

think forward we have sent every time stand on the floor and I are certain bills that we couldn't predict what was going to happen 2024 and we need to make sure that we protect values upon alliance and on that when it comes workers rights, women's rights, LGBTQ+ the climate.

We've got a lot of work.

I on some very important things.

And what we do know what Donald Trump he will do.

know he's going do we also know he's a pretty good morning from 2 other things.

And so we have to be prepare 2 to use the state's rights that we have to continue to protect the pies.

Dion son.

Those conversations are happening right now.

We're still trying identify those things.

You know, we know you know, this week, we're here next week or here.

We're not gonna get everything done on a two-week period of time.

We're going to be back in January.

We're going to be back for the session.

We have some time.

We just want to make sure we got an alarm get it right.

>> You know, one of the items you mentioned, Illinois has plenty of legal protections for reproductive rights in place.

Should we see something like a federal abortion ban or at least more severe reno restrictions on abortion rights at the federal level what if anything, could a state do to fight a measure like that?

>> We believe we've already gotten that Reproductive Health Act and we struck in the Reproductive Health Act under my term, a speakership when Ashley passion in 2019 and that we strengthen it when I became Speaker, Illinois has some of the strongest protections in the country.

We really are beacon not just in Midwest pass the country when it comes to women's reproductive health.

And we believe those protections would be place even Trump the Congress tried to pass a national abortion ban based on states rights.

certainly you know, we're prepared to fight and defend that and what we saw also last Tuesday 7 out of 10 states that had abortion on the agenda.

Including in Republican states like Montana Missouri.

And so Republicans will be calling if they pass the National Board compulsion ban.

Clearly what abortion is on the ballot.

People support women's reproductive health.

All 78 are great.

78 ran on women's reproductive health is one of the main issues and our caucus.

Every single incumbent, one real option that issue very important issue right now.

As sit here talking back 3 Republicans who represent pretty safe Republican district traditionally, we're still counting votes.

That was the come our way because we we talked about women's reproductive in those districts.

>> Would you support an amendment to the state Constitution, enshrining abortion access?

>> Well, that's certainly one of the things that we've talked about even before Donald Trump was elected last Tuesday.

I think about that has to be serious part of any I was station that we have going forward.

You know, especially when we see how successful it was on the ballot place Tuesday.

>> Last week a federal judge ruled that Illinois's what's often referred to as its assault weapons ban is unconstitutional.

What's your reaction to that decision?

>> Well, we've had on the challenges to bill, our law, the protect Illinois communities at the assault weapons ban something that I'm really proud that we accomplished.

Illinois it's been honor attacked by the right wing since we passed Federal Circuit Court, the 7th circuit.

It's rejected challenges to before we're confident that our appeal will be successful for them and can.

And the Supreme Court has rejected now.

So we're sharing well on that particular law.

So we have to let process play out.

We believe we got right.

And we're gonna continue to defend it.

>> You know this, this idea of banning semi out a semi automatic weapons at something, you know, that's come up in in Illinois and in other states and has faced other challenges.

If it makes it all the way to the Supreme Court and not, you know, on sort of procedural questions.

But if it makes it to the Supreme Court, kind of on the meat of whether that sort of law is constitutional.

Do you think a ban on semi automatics would survive given the current makeup of the justices?

>> Well, certainly believe that we have to be concerned because current makeup of the court, we have to be because the the president elect has told us his position on the issues, but we believe that our lawyers advise properly with that.

We got it right and that it would be constitutional muster its mandate before the 7th circuit.

We believe it would be it again at the 7th circuit.

And we were confident about our legal position.

If they overturn ban on assault I believe will be partisan nature.

>> And that it wouldn't be following, you know, Supreme Court precedent that it wouldn't be following the standards that justices should be held to is that you think that?

I want to turn to the issue of the budget.

The governor's budget office recently released its 5 year projection for the state and it predicts a shortfall of more than 3 billion dollars for the coming fiscal year which starts July first how are you preparing to tackle a budget gap?

Quite so large.

>> I'm concluding my 4th year as speaker.

My second term and every year that I've been speaker with forecasts every year, a speaker, we pass balance purchases like the surplus reading page.

I think we've on credit base last out.

I'm very coffee will run for General Assembly morning in January.

8.0 25, we're all going roll up our sleeves and continue to go line by line, through the budget and we're going to the right again to make sure we pass a balanced budget.

alliance can be proud of that protects the values Illinois and shows that where state that works and a state that cares we can do well.

>> You mentioned the number of budget process is you've been through earlier today.

We heard from Senate Minority Leader John Curran, some other GOP lawmakers who essentially said, you know, that that your chamber and the governor have not worked collaboratively on previous budgets.

Here's a bit of what leader current had to say.

Our budget team does a fantastic job.

was a Senate only budget.

We would have had a bipartisan budget so that the Senate Democrats and Republicans working very collaborative manner.

It was a matter of getting the house and the governor to buy into a bipartisan approach.

How about that?

Mister Speaker have these earlier budgets been sort of a fait accompli >> you know, I've never had to sit down one-on-one with Senate minority leader.

my door open to Speaker of the House the Democrat, his office is across the hall.

You want your comments talk with me and tell me what we've been missing.

I love it here.

I think highly of him.

I respect him, but I totally disagree what he said.

We pass balanced budget since I've been speaker.

Take care of the entire state.

Democratic district Republican districts.

They've been balance.

They put a great in our credit ratings.

They've been questions that we can all be >> We heard earlier in the show about a subject lawmakers have been skeptical about the new Bear Stadium, specifically the notion of public funding for that stadium.

Do you think the former Michael Reese site in Bronzeville might draw more support from lawmakers in Springfield?

Well, you know, >> here in Springfield, right now talking about a 5 year got be financial report that projects a 3.1 billion dollar deficit.

we've got to talk about pensions and we got to talk about trans talk about things that every day people concerned about.

I don't think sports stadiums ranked high on the priority list.

said that before and I'll that again.

I mean, we've got to talk about kitchen table issues that are affecting people.

economic concerns that we heard voters express comes at the ballot box last week.

And I don't think talking about wanting stadiums.

All right.

The competition is that.

>> We've got about 20 seconds left voters in Chicago just shows the first members of the cities, newly elected hybrid school board.

But it came after Mayor Johnson's appointed board resigned on masks and was replaced.

Are you concerned this quickly chose an interim board might take significant action before any of the elected board members are sworn in.

>> you know, I don't live in the city, Chicago from an elected school board, believe an elected school The people spoken and I'm going to the people of the city of Chicago work through that process.

But you know, and then stay busy down focused what we're going to get down for entire state as well.

>> Well, you may not be a Chicago in, but we know shade to the suburbs and we