SUBSCRIBERS ONLY: Crespo on "excommunication" from House Dems

May 16, 2025

Good morning, subscribers.

A little drama yesterday in the House as longtime Rep. Fred Crespo (D-Hoffman Estates) was essentially kicked out of the House Democratic Caucus. We spoke to Crespo last night.

The House is in at noon today. The Senate is out. There’s nothing on Governor Pritzker’s public schedule.

Let’s get to it.

CRESPO RESPONDS AFTER COMMITTEE CHAIR AND STAFF STRIPPED

Rep. Fred Crespo (D-Hoffman Estates), a longtime fiscal moderate and now former chair of one of the House Appropriations committees, says he “is trying to understand” House Speaker Chris Welch’s rationale for removing him from his committee chair position, removing his staff support, and disinviting him from House Democratic Caucus meetings.

An “excommunication” from the party, as one member called it Thursday.

Speaking to The Illinoize Thursday, Crespo confirmed he was working on legislation that would potentially “hold back” $4 billion in state spending in case the state saw a dramatic drop in revenue from either the federal government or a recession.