SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WMBD) — In the second day of Veto session, Republicans and Democrats in the state capitol argued with each other over how to condemn political violence.
Both sides condemned the shooting and killing of Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman and conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
A rift emerged when Democratic speakers condemned "all political violence," which included the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in Chicago.
"Masked troopers are marching our streets to harass, detain and apparently even beat and kill people simply because of how they look," said state Rep. Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez, a Cicero Democrat.
Speeches by Democrat lawmakers also included condemnations of President Trump. State Rep. Sharon Chung, a Bloomington Democrat, said Trump needs to stop attacking journalists by defunding NPR and arresting them during ICE raids.
"We cannot allow our freedom of speech to be taken from us," she said. "It’s unconstitutional at its foundation, and it’s dehumanizing at the core."
Republican lawmakers criticized Democrats for trying to condemn political violence while condemning Trumps actions as President.
State Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer wanted to pass a resolution condemning the political violence that killed Hortman and Kirk. However, he disagreed with condemning ICE and said House Democrats aren’t reducing political tensions
"When you talk about political violence and then say Trump, Trump, Trump. It doesn’t do anything to make my family feel safer," said the Jacksonville Republican.
Democrats and Republicans went back and forth, criticizing the other party in its failure to reduce political violence.
Trump wasn’t the only person who received criticism. State Rep. Amy "Murri" Briel said recent comments on autism made by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have put autistic people in danger.
"Autism is not a disease to be cured," said the Ottawa Democrat. "He’s not only wrong. He is cruel and disgraceful."
That also received some backlash from GOP lawmakers. State Rep. Bill Hauter said while he doesn’t agree with everything Kennedy has said, it’s not as bad as what happened during the pandemic.
"I lived through real weaponization of public health policy during COVID by the Biden administration, by the Pritzker Administration," said the Morton Republican.
Two lawmakers on the House floor said they have received death threats over being a lawmaker. Democrat state Rep. Harry Benton said he’s been physically assaulted and had his cars taillights smashed in.
State Rep. Nicole La Ha has recently received threats to her life for being a lawmaker. The Republican from Lemont said the House should do more to reduce political tensions.
"It’s still sinking in that someone wants me dead because I choose to serve in this chamber," she said. "We’re seeing a flood of resolutions that are no surprise, that conflate political violence with more partisan finger pointing attacks."
House Resolutions to condemn all political violence, racial profiling by ICE, RFK’s comments on health and supporting the freedom of the press were all adopted on partisan lines.
In a statement, House Minority Leader Tony McCombie said House Democrats are focusing on "political finger-pointing rather than soaring costs."
