Illinois Senate President Emil Jones Retires After 36 Years

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- Illinois Senate President Emil Jones is retiring after 36 years in the Legislature.

Jones bid farewell to his colleagues Tuesday evening and said he'll cherish the relationships he built over the decades.

The Chicago Democrat has been president since 2003. During those years, he helped Barack Obama reach the U.S. Senate - a position that led to the presidency.

Jones was also a strong ally of impeached Governor Rod Blagojevich.

Jones will be replaced by his son, Emil Jones III.

His fellow senators say Jones made his biggest mark by pushing to increase money for Illinois schools.

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Listen to Jones' farewell speech here.

Comments

[westreal]

Thank God. He has been in office almost as long as I've been born.

[sasson]

I'm sick of Illinois nepotism.

[mjb5406]

All I can say is "thank goodness"... one of Blago's true obligors.

[Myshkin57]

But Jones' SON, who never even went to college and has no qualifications or skills, is taking his place. That kid is just going to be an inept puppet.

[mjb5406]

Are Emil Jones III and Todd Stroger twins separated at birth? Sure sounds like it... both are useless wastes of space, a blight on Illinois and Cook County.

[poomplet]

Man...the GOP is gonna CLEAN UP in any & all upcoming state/county/local elections.

All a candidate will need do is to mention Blago...Burris....Jones....Stroger, throw in a reminder of how corrupt the "Chicago Machine" is (who knows, maybe by then Daley will be indicted by Fitz!), and unless they're criminally insane (not a given, by any means...see "Oberweiss"), it'll be cakewalk-city, baby!

The "Democratic Backlash" that's gonna hit will (proportionally) blow away the Bush-Backlash the Dems rode this past Nov.

[johnnygoodwud]

one of the really true, CROOKS, in illinois. reminds me of two words, 'term limits'.

[Myshkin57]

Jones' son never went to college and has absolutely no qualifications. The whole Jones family is appalling.

[LITNUP]

the Chicago , CookCounty Illinois and now national Dem way of patronage nepotisma and corruption epitiomized..... His son inherited his seat