How it Almost Fell Apart for House Democrats
[R-L]; House Republican Floor Leader Rep. Patrick Windhorst (R-Metropolis), Rep. Bill Hauter (R-Morton), House GOP Attorney Derek Persico, and Rep. Nicole La Ha (R-Homer Glen) watch as Democrats try to verify votes on a $700 million tax increase bill early Wednesday morning. (Photo: Capitol News Illinois)
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After the House passed a Fiscal Year 2025 budget shortly after 2:00 a.m. Wednesday, it didn’t seem as if there would be much suspense on remaining items, like the traditional Budget Implementation bill, or BIMP, or even passage of tax increases negotiated between the House, Senate, and Governor’s office in recent weeks.
It seemed like it was almost over.
Democrats spoke on the tax increase bill, including with some unexpected lengthy speeches in support of the legislation, which seemed like a way for the supermajority party to confirm it had enough members on the floor to get to 60 yes votes.
When the first roll call was taken at 3:38 a.m., the bill seemed to pass with 60 Democratic votes. 12 Democrats peeled off, a mix of moderates and members in potentially difficult races this fall. (There were a couple of others who didn’t fit either bucket and we’re still trying to figure out why they were a ‘no.’)
Republicans asked for a verification, a tool they often use to confirm members actually voted their switch on an important issue. On many less important bills, staff and other members vote for a colleague’s switch if they’re across the floor, in the hallway, in a meeting, or using the restroom, for example. It’s a long standing tradition.
But, when Republicans asked for a verification of the 60 “yes” votes, Rep. Aaron Ortiz (D-Chicago), was nowhere to be found. Ortiz, a member of Speaker Chris Welch’s leadership team, left the Capitol around 3:00 a.m., we’re told, but weren’t given a reason why.
“Mr. Clerk, please remove Leader Ortiz,” said presiding officer Rep. Barbara Hernandez (D-Aurora) at 3:43 a.m. to audible gasps in the House chamber.
Ortiz’s vote was pulled from the bill and it fell below 60 votes and was placed on “postponed consideration,” meaning it could come back for another vote once Democrats got their ducks in a row.
A House Democrat could be overheard on a microphone saying “I think everyone is sufficiently scared.”
Democrats successfully passed a motion to reconsider and brought the issue back for another vote.
It seemed as if House Leadership twisted an arm of one of the 12 dissenters and the bill would pass.
Instead, the same 12 Democrats voted against the bill and one Republican, Rep. Randy Frese (R-Paloma), voted yes. Republicans pulled a fast one.
Frese, who is not seeking re-election in November, immediately left the House floor and Republicans asked for another verification. Frese’s name was removed from the roll call. The bill was killed again.
We’re told Rep. Larry Walsh (D-Elwood) was supposed to vote for the bill, but when he saw 60 votes on the board, moved back to “no.”
At one point while counting the votes, Walsh, seemingly catching his mistake, lifted his arms and interlocked his fingers behind his head with a deep sigh and scowl.
House GOP Floor Leader Rep. Patrick Windhorst (R-Metropolis), with his House Rule Book in hand, attempted to stop further votes, claiming a House rule only allowed two votes on a concurrence motion (it was a concurrence motion because the Senate had already passed the bill.)
It was 4:14 a.m. and it appeared the entire budget deal was crumbling. Without the new revenue, the budget wouldn’t be balanced, and the Senate had already left town. It was almost a guarantee for overtime.
Rep. Daniel Didech (D-Buffalo Grove) could be seen huddling with House Democrat Chief of Staff Tiffany Moy and Deputy Legal Counsel Katherine Bray as Democrats tried to find a way out of the mess.
Didech eventually filed a motion to suspend House Rules to allow a third vote on the motion, sending Republicans into a tizzy.
“I think it should be clear to everyone In this state what this supermajority is willing to do to ram a tax increase down the throats of the people of Illinois at 4:30 in the morning,” the typically unflappable Windhorst said, raising his voice to a shout.
Democrats took a third vote, Walsh voted “yes,” and their disaster had been avoided.
House Speaker Chris Welch emerged on the floor shortly after looking pretty unhappy. He spoke for a few minutes before sending the chamber home.
“Nobody ever said the House was boring,” Welch said.
