Not surprisingly, the talk turned to abortion when legislative leaders took their turn Wednesday at a panel discussion during the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association and Illinois Retail Merchants Association joint convention in Springfield.

Some people want a constitutional amendment for abortion rights.

“I have a working group that has been is looking at ways to continue to make Illinois a place that trusts women,” said House Speaker Chris Welch (pictured, right) (D-Hillside). “We passed HB 40, which allows Medicaid to pay for abortions.” Welch added passage of the Reproductive Health Act and the repeat of the Parental Notification Act, and “our group’s not done yet.”

“I think Republicans as a whole do not want to address this issue, and pro-life Democrats do not want to address this issue,” said House Minority Leader Tony McCombie (pictured, left) (R-Savanna). “But to take away parental notification is certainly an issue. Taxpayer-funded (abortion) is an issue. But also, as a woman, telling me a D&C or D&E is an abortion is not right.”

Senators on stage at the conference summed up the state’s political climate as the legislative session enters its last three weeks.

“We have challenges. there’s no question, at the state level and probably nationally as well,” said State Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris). “We are the party, we feel, that are the representative and the voice for businesses, but sometimes it’s overshadowed by the social issues.”

State Sen. Rob Martwick (D-Chicago) dared to suggest political Illinois is at a lull.

“There aren’t a whole lot of the big, hot-button social issues that have been so divisive in Illinois” this year, Martwick said. “I would say the biggest, tumultuous moment has been the mayor’s race in Chicago, and I would say we already are starting to calm down from that.”

Lawmakers are scheduled to adjourn May 19.