Nonpartisan think tank identifies Illinois' most effective state legislators

Effective Illinois Legislators Make a Difference Despite Lack of Glorious Recognition

In the often-overlooked world of state legislatures, a nonpartisan think tank has shed light on which lawmakers in Illinois truly get things done. The Center for Effective Lawmaking, a collaboration between Vanderbilt University and the University of Virginia, released its annual report highlighting the most effective state legislators in the 2023-2024 session.

According to the researchers, Democrats dominated the top spots on both sides of the aisle, with House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch, D-Hillside, and Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, leading the pack. Republicans trailed behind, except for a few downstate representatives like Sue Rezin, R-Morris, who bucked the trend by introducing 66 bills and successfully passing three of them.

Rezin attributed her success to building credibility with colleagues across party lines and working together on complex issues. "I've built up education and credibility," she said. "It's very helpful when you are trying to work and get large pieces of legislation passed in a bipartisan manner."

In contrast, many Democratic lawmakers struggled to pass even a single bill. Craig Volden, co-author of the research, pointed out that being part of the majority party doesn't guarantee success. What matters most is how effectively legislators can build coalitions and navigate the legislative process.

For example, progressive Chicago Democrat Kelly Cassidy's efforts were met with resistance from her own colleagues, but she persevered to pass a bill removing barriers for trans individuals to change their name due to gender identity. Cassidy emphasized the importance of humanizing issues like this one to make them more relatable to lawmakers and constituents alike.

Reyna Ortiz, a Chicago-based activist for transgender rights, credited Cassidy's efforts with passing her bill after years of work. "We built a beautiful relationship...we're very grateful for the work that she did," Ortiz said.

Despite their relative lack of recognition in the public eye, these effective legislators are making real differences in the lives of Illinois residents. As the Center for Effective Lawmaking pointed out, it's not just about introducing bills – but about working with colleagues and constituents to create meaningful change.

Ugh, I'm so tired of politicians trying to one-up each other . Like, can we just focus on actually getting stuff done for once? But seriously, it's awesome to see people like Sue Rezin and Kelly Cassidy making waves in Springfield . Their dedication to building coalitions and working across the aisle is exactly what we need more of – especially when it comes to important issues like trans rights .

I mean, don't get me wrong, I love a good underdog story as much as the next guy , but sometimes it feels like nobody's really paying attention to the people who are actually making a difference behind the scenes . Like, where were all these "effective legislators" when my favorite TV shows from back in the day were getting cancelled? At least they tried to make a change, even if it was just for one season...

I was reading this article about the most effective state legislators in Illinois and I gotta say, I'm a bit surprised that more people don't know about these folks who are actually getting things done . Like, yeah, it's awesome that Democrats like Welch and Harmon are leading the pack, but what really caught my eye was Sue Rezin from downstate. She's a total rockstar for introducing 66 bills and passing three of them . And I love how she talked about building credibility with her colleagues - that's so important when you're trying to pass legislation . I also feel bad for lawmakers like Kelly Cassidy who have to deal with resistance from their own party members . It just goes to show that even when it feels like progress is slow, these people are still making real changes in the lives of Illinois residents .

I'm loving this news! It's so inspiring to see all those lawmakers putting in the effort to make a difference . I mean, sure, some of them might not get the recognition they deserve, but that just means we should be thanking them behind the scenes for their hard work . And it's awesome to see Sue Rezin from downstate Illinois bucking the trend and working with folks across party lines – that's what leadership is all about!

So I think what's really interesting here is how some politicians from both parties are actually making a difference despite not getting all the glory. Like Rezin, she's a total outlier among her own party, but she's still managing to get stuff done by building those relationships and working together . And then there's Cassidy, who's taking on tough issues like trans rights and refusing to back down even when it's hard . The thing is, effective legislating isn't just about getting bills passed (although that's a start), it's about actually making a difference in people's lives. And if politicians can do that, then they're doing their jobs . It's not always about being in the spotlight, but about making real change happen behind the scenes .

ya know, I think its kinda cool that those democrats on top got some recognition, but also kinda sad that the repubs are strugglin' to get anything done ... meanwhile, it's all about who can build coalitions and work together, not just about party lines or bein a big name. I mean, kelly cassidy's story is really inspiring, she didn't give up even when her own colleagues were against her bill ... its great to see some progress on trans rights in illinois

OMG u wont believe who's doin all da work behind the scenes in IL legis Democrats r doin way better than ppl think with House Speaker Welch & Senate President Harmon leadin da pack And its not just cuz they're dems either, reps like Sue Rezin r killin it with bipartisan efforts Like she introduced 66 bills & passed 3 of them w/o any major party drama And then theres Kelly Cassidy, shes humanizin issues like trans rights & makin laws that actually make a diff We need more ppl like her in power

I'm loving this under-the-radar stuff! The fact that Democrats are leading the pack might come as a surprise, especially when you think most people focus on the headlines But seriously, it's awesome to see these lawmakers like Rezin building those coalitions and getting bills passed. I mean, who needs all the glory if it means making real changes for people? It's not just about the recognition, but about what's being done behind the scenes. And credit to Cassidy and Ortiz for keeping their humanizing approach going!

You know how back in the 90s we used to have all those grassroots movements that were trying to make a difference? Like, remember the whole 'make love not war' thing? Anyway, I feel like our state reps today are kinda like that - they're out there working behind the scenes to get stuff done, even if nobody's giving them any credit. I mean, take Kelly Cassidy, she's pushing forward on trans rights and getting stuff passed, even when it's hard. That's what we need more of, you know? Leaders who are willing to put in the work and make a difference, even if it's not always glamorous. And hey, Sue Rezin is like that too - she's breaking down party lines and getting things done with her colleagues. It's all about building those relationships and working together for the greater good.

man i feel like its crazy that most of the time u only hear about the ppl who r really loud or famous on tv lol these effective legislators in illinois are actually doin real work behind the scenes but they dont get the recognition cuz they're not super high profel or somethin i think its great dat ppl like sue rezin and kelly cassidy r makin moves on bills that actually make a diffrence in people's lives, even if its not always easy

these politicians might be getting overlooked but they're actually doin some real work like Rezin, she's showin us that building those relationships & gettin on the same page as others is key it ain't just about introducin bills, it's about makin somethin happen and Cassidy, man... humanizin issues like trans rights is somethin we need more of in politics gotta keep pushin even when it gets tough but yeah, these lawmakers are the real MVPs

I'm so confused about this whole thing... like, how does a bill even become a law? Does someone just magically make it happen? And what's up with all these "effective" legislators not getting any recognition? Like, shouldn't they get some kinda award or something? I mean, I guess it's cool that Kelly Cassidy was able to pass her bill for trans people and stuff. That sounds super important... but why did her own party members resist it at first? Can someone explain this whole thing to me like I'm 5?

Wow those progressive lawmakers like Cassidy were really putting in the work to make a difference! Interesting how building relationships with colleagues is key to getting things passed

I think its crazy that politicians like Kelly Cassidy are actually making a difference despite no one noticing . Like, she must be doing something right, right? And I love how she humanizes issues like changing names for trans individuals - that's so important . It shows that even when things seem hard, people can still make progress with the right approach . Maybe we should start paying more attention to these unsung heroes in state legislatures

I mean, have you seen those reports on effective legislators? It's crazy how some lawmakers can actually get things done in the statehouse . Like, I was reading about this one rep from Illinois who introduced 66 bills and passed three of them - talk about dedication ! What's wild is that being a Democrat doesn't guarantee success, it's all about building coalitions and working together . And it's great to see some progressive lawmakers like Kelly Cassidy fighting for important issues like trans rights . I've gotta respect her perseverance in the face of resistance from her own colleagues . It just goes to show that even if you're not a household name, your work can still have a real impact on people's lives .

I gotta say...these state reps in Illinois get all the love, but where's the tea on how they're getting paid? Did you see that report from the Center for Effective Lawmaking? It's like, yay for Democrats and Sue Rezin bucking the trend and actually getting things done, but what about their salaries? Are they getting some kind of special treatment just 'cause they're effective?

And let's be real, I'm not surprised that Kelly Cassidy had to work super hard to pass her bill. It's like, every single time a "progressive" Democrat tries to do something, the haters come out swinging . But for once, it sounds like someone was willing to listen and make some progress.

I guess what I'm saying is...effective legislators aren't just about passing bills, they're also about building coalitions and working with people who don't always see eye-to-eye . And sometimes that means having to navigate the drama and politics of the state capitol . So yeah, props to these Illinois reps for making a difference, even if it's not always easy or glamorous .

just thinkin' about how power is held by who you know & relationships rather than just being a rep from your party some ppl are tryna change the system from within it's not always pretty, but progress happens one bill at a time

I'm totally down with lawmakers like Kelly Cassidy who really put in the effort to make a difference ! Passing that bill removing barriers for trans individuals was huge . It's all about building coalitions and navigating the legislative process, you know? Forgive me if I sound too optimistic, but it's refreshing to see someone like Sue Rezin who's actually working across party lines . And Reyna Ortiz's testimony just proves that it all matters . The Center for Effective Lawmaking should be giving more props to these unsung heroes ! #LegislativeImpact #EffectiveLawmakers #TransRightsMatter

I mean come on...it's about time someone gave some props to those behind-the-scenes lawmakers who actually get stuff done. Not saying Democrats are perfect or anything, but seriously, 3 successful passes out of what? 100+ bills? That's like me getting a prize for showing up on time . And don't even get me started on the lack of recognition...I'd love to see some more transparency in our government. It's all about who you know and how many connections you have, right? Meanwhile, folks like Rezin are over here trying to make real progress with bipartisan efforts . Give those people a shoutout for once!