Jones had feuds during his time in office with other Democrats, most notably House Speaker Michael Madigan.
He has been an ally of impeached ex-Governor Rod Blagojevich.
Jones teamed with fellow Chicago Democrat Blagojevich to propose plans for health care and education, paid for by $5 billion in increased business taxes and gambling.
The plan did not have enough support to pass the Senate and according to Madigan would fail in the House.
 When Jones attended strategy session meetings regarding the 2007 budget, he barred one of the members of his own leadership because he feared the member would leak information to Madigan.

During his years in the Illinois General Assembly, Jones often kept up the traditions of old-school politicians.
He has steered state money to a few favored institutions, including some that employ his relatives.
Some of his relatives also have gotten state jobs and his wife’s government salary got a sizable boost after he became Senate president in 2003, when the Blagojevich administration created a special salary class.
Jones faced scrutiny after it was reported that his wife received a $70,000 pay raise two months after she and Jones were married and four months after she started her position, when Governor Rod Blagojevich created a special salary class for her position.
Jones also received attention in 2008 for postponing a vote on an automatic legislative pay raise of 7.5% which would go into effect if the Senate did not vote on the proposal (the House voted no).

Jones announced in August 2008 that he would retire in January 2009.
 When asked who would replace him on the ballot, his spokesperson said, "His preference, yes, would be to see his son Emil Jones, III serve," which has prompted criticism and been described as "anointing one of his children to take over for him."
Jones had feuds during his time in office with other Democrats, most notably House Speaker Michael Madigan. He has been an ally of impeached ex-Governor Rod Blagojevich. Jones teamed with fellow Chicago Democrat Blagojevich to propose plans for health care and education, paid for by $5 billion in increased business taxes and gambling. The plan did not have enough support to pass the Senate and according to Madigan would fail in the House.  When Jones attended strategy session meetings regarding the 2007 budget, he barred one of the members of his own leadership because he feared the member would leak information to Madigan.
During his years in the Illinois General Assembly, Jones often kept up the traditions of old-school politicians. He has steered state money to a few favored institutions, including some that employ his relatives. Some of his relatives also have gotten state jobs and his wife’s government salary got a sizable boost after he became Senate president in 2003, when the Blagojevich administration created a special salary class. Jones faced scrutiny after it was reported that his wife received a $70,000 pay raise two months after she and Jones were married and four months after she started her position, when Governor Rod Blagojevich created a special salary class for her position. Jones also received attention in 2008 for postponing a vote on an automatic legislative pay raise of 7.5% which would go into effect if the Senate did not vote on the proposal (the House voted no).
Jones announced in August 2008 that he would retire in January 2009.  When asked who would replace him on the ballot, his spokesperson said, "His preference, yes, would be to see his son Emil Jones, III serve," which has prompted criticism and been described as "anointing one of his children to take over for him."
Emil Jones