Sangamon Sun

Veteran state Sen. Steve McClure (R-Springfield) finds the list of reasons for why lawmakers should now being meeting in Springfield to be endless.

“We need to be convening for the fall Veto Session because we’ve got all these people in need of assistance with things like unemployment benefits during these tough times,” McClure told the Sangamon Sun. “We’ve got to have oversight on what’s happening because there are also others fraudulently having benefits triggered. We really need to be there to do our jobs.”

Citing rising infection rates, Illinois legislative leaders recently announced the cancellation of the veto session slated to commence this month. While a recent email from House Speaker Mike Madigan’s office contends he has the backing of a “strong majority” of House Democrats in making the move, McClure argues that’s not responsible governance.

“We have a state crisis going on right now and the fact the General Assembly is not at the Capitol dealing with the issue is really ridiculous,” he said. “We need to be performing our constitutional duties. Government can’t be just a one-man show.”

With Madigan now facing his own struggles, namely being at the center of an ongoing federal corruption probe involving ComEd and a pay-for-play where benefits were allegedly steered to him in exchange for favorable legislation, McClure said he’s almost sure the virus isn’t the only reason Madigan may now want to stay clear of Springfield.

“I’m sure he doesn’t want to have to speak to the investigation,” he said. “We’ve been demanding hearings on all kinds of things for several months and nothing. They just don’t seem to want to get back to Springfield and I think there’s not just one reason for that.”

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.