Kane County Reporter

Jeanette Ward struggles to see the logic in state lawmakers canceling Springfield’s fall veto session at such a critical time for Illinois.

“If we can shop in grocery stores and store workers can still be called on to work, it seems to me legislators can meet and do what needs to be done for the people,” Ward told the Kane County Reporter. 

“The people that represent us need to be in Springfield," said Ward.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker | Facebook

There seems little chance of that now happening after Illinois' legislative leaders recently moved to cancel the fall veto session slated to be held beginning this month over COVID-19 concerns following a rise in infection rates.  

In an email to lawmakers, a close associate of House Speaker Mike Madigan insisted a “strong majority” of House Democrats supported the move in light of the circumstances.

Ward, who narrowly lost her 25th District Senate race to incumbent Democrat Karina Villa, has her reservations.

“I think Speaker Madigan and Gov. Pritzker are working together to make this happen,” she said, “They don’t want this legislature to have to own shutting down all these businesses. I’ve said all along the cure to handling this can’t be worse than the disease.”

With Madigan now also finding himself at the center of a still ongoing federal corruption probe involving ComEd and a pay-for-play scheme, Ward added she thinks that may have also played a role in the state’s longest serving lawmaker not wanting to convene in Springfield.

“Quite clearly, that factors in,” said Ward, “I don’t know why he hasn’t already been indicted.”

The new session was slated to commence on Nov. 17 for the first day of a scheduled six-day session. The next General Assembly is due to be inaugurated Jan. 13.