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Heated Debate in Springfield Over Party Leader Selection
Democrats didn't have enough votes to alter the way Republicans pick the party's Republican Central Committee, but that didn't stop a nasty debate on the House floor.

The measure would have required voters to elect members of the committee, rather than the current system of local GOP leaders choosing the committee members. House Republican Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego) was livid, saying that rank-and-file Democrats needed to stop House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) from trying to chip away at the Republican party.

But Democrat Lou Lang (D-Skokie) says some of the measure's co-sponsors were Republicans, so it makes no sense to say that proponents wanted to make Madigan a king. He pointed out that Republicans called for two caucuses, which he says wasted time when lawmakers could be working on problems like ethics and the budget.

The measure needed 71 votes to pass, but was pulled out of the record with only 59 yes votes. Lawmakers return to the Capitol next week for the last half of the veto session.

(Illinois Radio Network)
10 19 09 by Newsroom
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