Welch Reportedly Gives Unions Path to Pass Energy Bill
Sources indicate House Speaker Chris Welch has told union interests he will call a controversial energy bill for a vote if unions can identify 71 “yes” votes for the bill. A Welch spokesperson denied the story.
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It appears House Speaker Chris Welch has given unions and other supporters of a Senate-passed energy bill a path to a potential vote next week.
Multiple sources tell The Illinoize Welch has told union supporters of the controversial legislation that if they can whip 71 yes votes, enough to pass the bill, that he will bring the House back for a vote as early as next week.
The bill would phase out coal-burning power plants unless they find a way to cut emissions to zero. Environmental interests and Governor JB Pritzker want a hard date for coal plant closures. It also includes hundreds of millions in investments in wind and solar and a $700 million bailout for Exelon nuclear plants.
There are some mixed signals as to where Welch is requiring the votes to come from. Unions believe they can get a combination of 71 Democratic and Republican votes. But we’ve learned Welch told others Thursday he wants the commitments of 71 Democrats before calling it for a vote.
That’s a significantly tougher haul.
A Welch spokesperson denied the statements Friday afternoon, calling the story “wholly inaccurate.” The spokesperson did not respond when we asked to clarify the Speaker’s position.
If unions can whip 71 votes, either Democrats only or a bipartisan list, it would go a long way to helping Exelon keep nuclear plants in Byron and Dresden, near Morris, open and operating. Exelon said Wednesday the company would need significant assurance from the state by September 13.