Suburban representative returns to House

SPRINGFIELD — Rep. Rosemary Mulligan returned to the Illinois House this week after missing meetings of the Illinois General Assembly in the opening months of the year because of illness.

The veteran lawmaker from Des Plaines said Thursday she is still not well, but feels better and believed it was important to make it back to Springfield to help her Republican colleagues navigate through the budget process.

“I just felt like I had to be here because we’re starting to get into budget stuff and that’s my area,” she said. “But the doctors are still not sure what’s wrong with me.”

Mulligan, 69, said her illness began after she received a flu shot, and multiple tests to diagnose breathing problems have not produced clear results. She said she is scheduled for one or two more tests, but would try to hold off until the House goes on break for a week later this month.

Mulligan said is being cautious as she adds to her workload, including driving with a staff member from Des Plaines to Springfield in case her illness worsens.

But she said she plans on working through her illness as much as possible and does not expect to miss any future session dates.

Mulligan also was able to debate legislation on the floor Thursday.

“I’ll try to be here as much as I can unless something else happens,” she said. “I think this is going to be a really tough budget, so I need to be here to help my caucus do the best we can do in representing the people.”