McHenry Times

In the eyes of state Rep. Dan Ugaste (R-Geneva), lawmakers can’t get back to Springfield fast enough to deal with all the state’s mounting issues.

“It’s the absolute wrong choice for anyone to be deciding not to have us back in session right now,” Ugaste told the Kane County Reporter. 

“We’ve got issues from the budget to the pandemic and the governor talking about shutting us down again to deal with. We as lawmakers need to have a say in this and actively participate at how to best address it," said Usaste.

Illinois State Rep. Dan Ugaste (R-Geneva), | File Photo

Ugaste, and many other lawmakers’ concerns aside, Illinois legislative leaders recently announced the cancellation of the fall veto session due to rising COVID-19 concerns.  

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, Ugaste isn’t completely convinced.

“We all come from different areas and have been talking with our constituents about best way forward and many of them don’t think this is it,” said Ugaste, “We need property tax and pension reform; we need to figure out how to help our small businesses survive all this. The list goes on and on. I don’t have any inside knowledge but I would have to think a lot of this has to do with some of the other stuff the Speaker is dealing with right now.”

The state’s longest serving lawmaker, Madigan now finds himself at the center of an ongoing federal corruption probe involving ComEd and a pay-for-play scheme where all the perks are alleged to have been steered to him in exchange for favorable legislation.

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.