WATCH: Lawmakers differ on ‘affordability issues’ plaguing Illinois

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch says state lawmakers need to address the state’s affordability issues, but a statehouse Republican says Democratic party policies are driving costs up.

The speaker held a brief press conference at the Illinois Capitol Wednesday ahead of floor action. Welch, D-Hillside, said statehouse Democrats are building consensus on things they hope to accomplish.

“It’s critical that we get things done to address important issues that are going on in this state. People want us to address affordability issues,” Welch said.

House Democrats then introduced resolutions directing criticism at the Trump administration and federal immigration enforcement.

Republican state Rep. Brad Halbrook, R-Shelbyville, said Democrats do nothing to address their own failed policies.

“Right on cue, the Democrats always go to, ‘It’s always somebody else’s fault.’ It’s their bad policy that’s driving the cost of living up, making all these things more difficult in the state of Illinois,” Halbrook told The Center Square. “They’re doing nothing to address the high cost of living when it comes to property taxes.”

Halbrook said Illinois has the highest property taxes and the highest or second-highest gas taxes in the nation.

During his press conference, Welch also touched on high energy costs.

“Bringing down the cost of utility bills that are scary right now, we’re trying our best to get something done on that,” Welch said.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) in 2021, setting the state toward decarbonization and the closure of coal-fired power plants by 2045.

Neither Pritzker nor Welch offered plans to relax the state’s decarbonization mandates after Illinoisans’ electric bills spiked this summer.

Halbrook said Illinois Democrats need to rethink their energy policies.

“We’ve got to have the baseload generation of coal and natural gas. All the while, the majority party wants to phase that out. That’s what’s driving costs up,” Halbrook said.

Fall veto session continues Thursday, followed by three days Oct. 28 to 30.

Greg Bishop contributed to this story.