Froehlich needs new material

About a year ago, Schaumburg state Rep. Paul Froehlich decided he wanted to be a Democrat. That was big news because Froehlich had spent nearly a decade running the local township Republican organization and been elected to the General Assembly under the GOP banner.

The representative might want to keep this all in mind when he rises to speak on the House floor and challenge his former colleagues on the Republican side.

Earlier this year, he questioned a downstate Republican's idea to bring year-round horse racing to the track at the Illinios State Fairgrounds in Springfield. Froehlich pointed out that the lawmaker pushing the deal had once opposed gambling.

"Have you ever changed your mind?" Republican state Rep. Raymond Poe shot back at Froehlich as the House burst into laughter.

Then, on Thursday, Froehlich decided to again take on the Republicans again on the issue of gambling. Many Republicans were calling for more and bigger casinos to finance billions worth of state construction spending.

After a contentious, lengthy debate, Froehlich rose to point out the the Republican Party platform adopted at the GOP state conventin just a few weeks ago, officially opposes gambling.

Then he added that he supports the official Republican position on gambling.

There was less laughter this time, but his comment brough many chuckles from the Republicans. Some wondered if Froehlich was about to switch back.