News

Gov Pritzker distances himself from Speaker Welch

Gov Pritzker distances himself from Speaker Welch

(l-r) State Rep. Curtis Tarver (D-Chicago), House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch (D-Hillside), State Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago) at a news conference outside the speaker's office, State Capitol, Springfield IL April 22, 2026 Photo: Saga Communications


(CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Illinois House Speaker Emanual “Chris” Welch‘s (pictured, center) (D-Hillside) vow to lead a campaign to get Chicago Public Schools $150 million during the fall veto session has Gov. JB Pritzker as a spectator. Pritzker Friday said he knew no particulars about something which Welch is “planning to have a pan for, but we don’t know how.”

Speaking with reporters after a bill-signing ceremony in Chicago Friday, Pritzker passed up several opportunities to say he has the speaker’s back.

Pritzker did say that the way things work at the Capitol, he rolls out a budget in February, the legislature votes on it in May, and it takes effect in July, as opposed to popping out some money for schools in the middle of the school year.

Welch has been under fire this summer for how he has handled sexual harassment allegations, having reportedly known of complaints against now-former State Rep. Harry Benton for three years, inviting Benton’s accuser – who earlier was an intern in the speaker’s office – to meet him in a bar, and using emojis to like the woman’s social media posts.

Does Welch even have Pritzker’s support? “It’s not up to me to make the decision of who the speaker of the House is,” said the governor.

Recent Headlines

10 hours ago in Entertainment, Trending

Ariana Grande on decision to withdraw from the public eye: ‘Not a reactive or impulsive thing’

Ariana Grande chose to "clear the air about a few things" during her concert Monday night, following the news that she will be taking a break from being in the public eye after the conclusion of her "Eternal Sunshine" tour.

17 hours ago in Entertainment

Leonardo DiCaprio and Jeff Bezos lead $200M project to save 100 of globe’s most threatened species

Foundations funded and co-founded by Leonardo DiCaprio and Jeff Bezos have launched an initiative committing $200 million to revive 100 of Earth's most threatened species, including endangered lemurs, salamanders, pangolins, pigs and echidnas.

2 days ago in Entertainment

‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ nets second best North American opening ever with $355 million

"Spider-Man: Brand New Day" made box office history in its first weekend in theaters. The Sony-released superhero movie became the second-biggest North American opening ever with an astonishing $355 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday. It was just a few million shy of "Avengers: Endgame," which debuted to $357 million in 2019.

2 days ago in Entertainment

Ariana Grande withdraws from London musical and will take a break from the public eye

Ariana Grande has pulled out of an upcoming stage musical in London, producers said, and plans to withdraw from the public eye for a break from the intense scrutiny she faces.