(The Center Square) – National politics continues to be a point of contention for some Illinois legislators, mentioning Elon Musk’s name several times Tuesday.

During a brief House session Tuesday in Springfield, state Rep. Justin Slaughter, D-Chicago, complained about Musk going on social media to advocate for pardoning Derek Chauvin, the former police officer convicted of the 2020 murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

“Expecting a killer to be held accountable for a man’s death is not a matter of woke politics, it’s a matter of right and wrong,” Slaughter said during a point of personal privilege.

State Rep. Brad Halbrook, R-Shelbyville, took a different approach. He focused on Democrats’ renewable energy policies he feels threatens Illinois’ energy infrastructure.

“It’s given us higher energy bills, job losses and a grid tethering on the edge of collapse,” he said.

Other Democrats complained about recent immigration actions.

State Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago, followed up with points she made last week concerning opposition to biological males playing in female sports. She criticized what she said were 733 bills across the country that she said targeted trans individuals, including 20 in Illinois.

“Know that those bills will never become law in Illinois as long as I have breath in my body,” Cassidy said.

Cassidy again urged her colleagues to “leave the kids alone.”

State Rep. Regan Deering, R-Decatur, then rose as someone who filed such a bill.

“I too echo the passion of leaving our kids alone and I want my constituents to know and women and girls all over the state of Illinois that I have their back,” Deering said.

Legislators then adjourned for committees and will return Wednesday.