Lawmakers were left to supply their own interpretation of the speaker’s words, hardly a first time for any of them. My interpretation? If House Democrats figure out how hard it is to put together a 60-vote majority and give up, they’re welcome to come crawling back to Madigan.
Madigan suspended his campaign for the position - which he s held for all but two years since 1983, making him the longest serving statehouse speaker in U.S. history - on Monday after he failed to reach the 60 votes needed in the full Democratic caucus first vote. But he noted it was not a withdrawal from the race, potentially leaving the door open for him to reenter should other candidates not be able to garner 60 votes either.
“As I have said many times in the past, I have always put the best interest of the House Democratic Caucus and our members first, Madigan said. The House Democratic Caucus can work to find someone, other than me, to get 60 votes for Speaker.”
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SPRINGFIELD In his two years as a state representative, Republican Darren Bailey has been kicked out of a House session for not wearing a mask, sued Gov. J.B. Pritzker over the Democratic governor’s handling of COVID-19 and been wheeled out of another session on a gurney after a medical emergency.
On Tuesday he closed out his House tenure with a rare bipartisan round of applause.
The southern Illinois lightning rod returned to the Bank of Springfield Center on Tuesday after collapsing Sunday during House proceedings, offering a combination return and farewell speech.
It was the final full day of Bailey’s House term. He is poised to be sworn into the state Senate on Wednesday.
Illinois House kicks off busy lame duck session wgem.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from wgem.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.