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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.

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