Illinois Democrats have control - can they get work done?

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois General Assembly convenes next week, ushering in the Prairie State’s third century with historic numbers of Democrats running the show and pent-up demand for action.

Can they get any work done?

Democrats have not surrendered control of either chamber of the Legislature for more than 15 years, but progress has been overshadowed by scandals that sent two successive governors to federal prison, backed-up bills and a long-overdue pension debt coming home to roost, and, in the past four years, ideological stalemate with Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, which stalled even a basic annual spending plan for two years running.

On the heels of Illinois’ bicentennial last month comes Democratic Gov.-elect J.B. Pritzker with promises of a revamped and fairer income-tax structure, a capital construction plan to bolster roads and bridges, legalized marijuana use to help pay for it, and a boost in the minimum wage.

Backing him are history-making Democratic majorities. In the past 140 years, as a percentage, the Democrats’ 74-44 control of the House is second only to the 118-59 edge they held when the House was bigger from 1965 to 1967, after a failed attempt at reapportionment forced every house member to be elected statewide on the now-notorious “bedsheet ballot.”

Read more: https://www.nwherald.com/2019/01/04/illinois-democrats-have-control-can-they-get-work-done/atx79j4/