Welch: No Money for Migrants During Veto Session
Governor JB Pritzker and House Speaker Chris Welch at an event in Chicago Thursday.
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After speculation through the week that lawmakers may attempt to advance a supplemental budget appropriation to aid the migrant crisis in Chicago during the fall veto session, House Speaker Chris Welch put the issue to rest, at least for now, Thursday.
Speaking to reporters at an unrelated news conference in Chicago Thursday, Welch confirmed he met with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson last week on a number of issues, including the migrant crisis, calling it a “very positive conversation.”
No dollar figure was discussed by the two men, Welch said, because the Speaker told Johnson there won’t be a supplemental during veto session, which begins October 24 in Springfield.
“I think I made it clear that we were not expecting to do a supplemental budget in the veto session,” Welch said.
“This is a national crisis that’s going to call for a national response,” Welch said. “We need the White House to step up and do more on this issue.”
Though, at the same news conference, Governor JB Pritzker kept the window open for more state funding being made available for migrants.
“We’re finding resources wherever we can and supporting the city and surrounding communities and others who are impacted by the influx of asylum seekers,” Pritzker said.
While the U.S. House is paralyzed by the removal of Speaker Kevin McCarthy and the GOP’s inability to elect a new leader, Democrats in the Illinois delegation are asking for more help from the Biden administration.
Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, along with 13 of 14 Democratic members of the Illinois delegation sent a letter to President Biden Thursday asking for more resources to handle the migrant crisis.
“We urge you to take immediate action to address serious humanitarian needs in Illinois,” the letter reads. “State and local officials have worked tirelessly to serve these new arrivals, and the federal government must swiftly provide assistance and resources that reflect this Administration’s commitment to safe, orderly, and humane immigration processes.”
Governor Pritzker, meanwhile, praised the Biden administration for taking additional action on the crisis since Pritzker sent Biden a letter last week.