Wed
Jan
14
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.
Listen to Jones’ farewell speech here.
