Illinois House speaker backs Safe-T Act

Posted on September 30, 2022
Illinois House Speake Chris Welch (D-Hillside). (WJBC file photo)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – The speaker of the Illinois House said Wednesday his political opponents want to sow fear and spread misinformation.

Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) told the City Club of Chicago that the elimination of cash bail, effective Jan. 1, is a good thing.

“Those who want to repeat the Safe-T Act, ask them what else they want to repeal,” Welch said Wednesday. “That is coded language. They want to repeal a whole lot more than the Safe-T Act.” Welch ticked off the possibilities: women rights; and civil rights such as same-sex marriage.

Welch said in leading the entire House, he’s a unifier, though the superminority Republicans have been complaining almost since he became speaker … he’s not.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…