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Singing State Legislator dies

A Chicago lawmaker known for her musical spin on Springfield issues died this morning.  Esther Golar was a state representative from the city’s south side.

It was known that Representative Golar was sick with cancer for a few weeks now.  The reason that was known is because it was recently on full display in the House of Representatives when there were some critical bills called for a vote.  And Democrats needed every vote they could get.

Democratic Representative Jehan Gordon-Booth was close with Golar

"Esther should have not have left the hospital. She should not have gone. She should not have made that trip in that car. She shouldn’t have. But she did because she believed in it."

Gordon Booth called a bill that day to roll back cuts to child care.  And it ended up failing by one vote despite Golar’s yes vote.

She was a 10-year veteran of the House of Representatives, who was perhaps best known in Springfield for her delivery on the House floor, which sometimes invoked songs from the civil rights movement.

"Esther wouldn’t sing the original rendition. She would often give it the little Esther-ism that would change it to make it fit the occurrence that we were dealing with at that time."

Esther Golar-"Fighting against right to work, we shall not be moved"

In a statement Republican Governor Bruce Rauner, who enacted some of the policies Golar left the hospital to vote to undo, called Golar a pillar of strength in her community and a champion for housing and education.