Tom Cross (politician)

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Tom Cross
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives
from the 84th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
1993
Personal details
Born (1958-07-31) July 31, 1958 (age 54)
Nashville, Tennessee
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Genie Cross
Profession Attorney
Religion United Methodist

Tom Cross (born July 31, 1958) is a Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives, representing the 84th district where he has served since 1993. He is currently the House Republican Leader.

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Political career [edit]

During his time as House Republican leader, Cross joined with then Senate Republican leader Frank Watson to referee the "rancorous" relationship between House and Senate Democrats and Democratic Governor Rod Blagojevich.[1]

In February 2009, Cross and fellow Republican, ranking impeachment committee member Jim Durkin, spoke out about a follow-on controversy over the impeachment testimony of now-U.S. Senator Roland Burris. Burris had been named by Blagojevich to fill President Barack Obama's Senate seat, after the emergence of the corruption charges against Blagojevich but before Blagojevich's removal from office.

Burris had reportedly not mentioned fund-raising contacts allegedly made to him by Blagojevich's brother, Robert Blagojevich, in his testimony, but then filed an affidavit with Democrat impeachment committee chair Barbara Flynn Currie, listing three such contacts, shortly after February 5. Word of the new information did not reach the public, or the Republicans in the House, until its release in the Chicago Sun-Times on February 13. Cross was quoted as saying "We [Republicans] find it ironic that at the same time Democrats are forming a new committee to clean up corruption, they are sitting on critical information related to the biggest corruption scandal our state has ever seen."[2]

Personal Life [edit]

Tom lives in Oswego with his wife and a daughter named Hudson who attends Oswego High School.

References [edit]

External links [edit]