Sangamon Sun

The Illinois House of Representatives voted yesterday to adopt a set of procedural rules for the 104th General Assembly. These rules, crafted by the Democratic supermajority, will guide the legislative process for the next two years without input from the Republican minority.

Republicans had proposed changes aimed at increasing accountability and transparency, but these were rejected by the supermajority. The adopted rules grant significant authority to the Speaker of the House over legislative proceedings. This includes defining committee structures and appointments, where chairpersons often receive additional pay and may owe allegiance to the Speaker.

These rules also determine which bills are heard publicly in standing committees or die in the Rules Committee without a hearing. This has affected legislation on issues like gerrymandering and term limits. Last year, during a late session, lawmakers voted three times on a tax bill that eventually passed after failing twice—a move that reportedly broke existing rules allowing only two votes.

Critics argue that this rule-making process prevents minority parties from holding the supermajority accountable and restricts even majority members from challenging the Speaker's authority. Despite this concentration of power, all Democratic members supported these rules.

Emanuel “Chris” Welch succeeded Michael Madigan as Speaker with promises of change in his inaugural address, calling it a "New Day" in Illinois. However, some view Welch's adherence to Madigan-era rules as contradictory to his earlier commitments.

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