|
“It’s been the privilege of a lifetime to represent the most
diverse Senate district in the State of Illinois,” Steans said
in a written statement issued Tuesday. “I’ve benefited
tremendously from the many perspectives of the people a I’ve
represented. We’ve made great progress together, and now it’s
time to pass the baton.”
Steans’ resignation follows two other high-profile resignations
by Sens. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, and former Minority Leader
Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, who both stepped down from their
Senate seats in recent weeks.
Steans, as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, was
deeply involved in budget matters. She was a key player in
crafting the cannabis legalization law, and had important roles
in advancing legislation to protect abortion rights and to
expand the Affordable Care Act in Illinois.
Steans, 57, has not revealed her next move, but her statement
mentions she will continue to support the efforts of
citizen-activists after leaving the Senate.
Senate President Don Harmon said in an emailed statement that
Steans has forever changed the state for the better.
“People across Illinois had their rights recognized and
protected thanks to her leadership. She is a forceful advocate
for progress and problem solving, who fearlessly tackled many of
the biggest issues in our society and was always looking for her
next challenge,” Harmon, a Democrat from Oak Park.
Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of
Illinois Colleen Connell, in a statement, hailed Steans’ support
of issues such as advancing marriage equality for same-sex
couples and implementing protections from religious
discrimination in health care.
“Senator Steans has been a leader for progress in Illinois and
her voice in the Senate will be missed,” Connell said in the
statement.
Her successor will be appointed to serve for the two years
remaining in her term by a weighted vote of the Democratic
committeemen and committeewomen from the Chicago wards that
comprise the 7th Senate District, which Steans’ represents.
Rep. Kelly Cassidy, a Chicago Democrat whose House district is
within Steans’ Senate district, confirmed to Capitol News
Illinois that she intends to seek the appointment.
Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan
news service covering state government and distributed to more
than 400 newspapers statewide. It is funded primarily by the
Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick
Foundation.
|
|
