ILLINOIS (WCIA) — Illinois lawmakers have a lot of issues to cover but not a lot of time to work. Some are worried that full plate will keep legislators from getting much done.
It seems like every big issue in Illinois is vying for the spotlight. But now, a last minute push to upend the state’s electoral map has thrown a curveball at the veto session, turning some attention from Illinois to Washington D.C.
With just two more days until they hit their deadline, lawmakers will have to prioritize to get something passed.
“The federal government, transportation energy. I know that there are a few other things that everyone’s waiting to see if they can get fully baked by Thursday,” Illinois House Representative Margaret Croke said.
One of the few issues seeing bipartisan urgency is energy prices.
“This is really the only bill that recognizes we need every watt that we have got,” Illinois Senate President Pro Tempore Bill Cunningham said.
That debate is likely coming down to the Clean Renewable Grid Affordability Act or CRGA. CRGA has seen significant support from democrats and consumer advocates. But the Illinois Manufacturers Association is joining Republicans in opposing the bill.
They say funding the expanded battery storage component pushes the cost to consumers when prices are already high.
“We have to, we have the mindset right now of all energy, especially if we want to have data centers, especially if we want to expand manufacturing and people to actually come to our state,” House Minority Leader Tony McCombie said.
But on Monday, lawmakers had even more added to their plates.
“I think that it’s important for the process to proceed as expeditiously as possible,” U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said.
WCIA sat down with Jeffries during his last minute push to re-draw Illinois’ maps.
One concern holding up the process: preserving minority representation. Illinois Legislative Black Caucus is worried new maps will limit Black and Latino representation — and some Republicans are taking notice.
“I think it would change the representation of the Black Caucus and I think it would put the 17th Congressional, which is where I live, at much more risk,” McCombie said.
But Jeffries said now is the time to act for Democrats. He worries if they don’t, it could cost them the next election.
“It’s also important for us as Democrats to find a way to decisively respond to the extremism that Trump is unleashing on the American people, including as a result of his effort to rig the midterm elections,” Jeffries said.
The likelihood of redistricting passing this veto session still appears questionable. Senate Majority Leader Bill Cunningham described the discussions as "in a holding pattern."
And even if it does pass, questions remain about what that would mean for the 2026 election.
Candidates have already filed their paperwork for those races.
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October 28, 2025 at 08:33PM
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