Illinois lawmakers are back in Springfield to kick off the fall veto session.
Both the House and the Senate are scheduled to meet for three days this week. They'll convene again for another three-day session in early November.
Expectations are low that legislators will deal with pressing issues such as pension reform or gay marriage. But thousands of gay marriage supporters from across Illinois are planning to rally in the Capitol Tuesday to press them on the issue.
A similar rally opposing gay marriage is scheduled for Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the pension systems boards will be meeting next week to determine the statewide contribution to the funds for the next fiscal year. The state has a roughly $100 billion pension backlog.
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Illinois lawmakers are set to reconvene Tuesday to address pressing issues such as pension reform and same-sex marriage. But a looming deadline for opponents to challenge sitting lawmakers in 2014 is one reason those issues could be pushed off once again.
The filing date for anyone considering challenging a legislator in the March primaries in Dec. 9. That could make some lawmakers especially careful about casting controversial votes.
On the session agenda is proposed tax incentives aimed at keeping the new global headquarters of Decatur-based Archer Daniels Midland Company in Illinois. Lawmakers will consider supplementing the $35 billion budget approved in May and hold a hearing to resuscitate talks over expanding gambling in the state.
It has been three years since Gov. Pat Quinn urged lawmakers to have a “rendezvous with reality,” and five months since he approved a conference committee to work on the issue, with no results as yet, and the veto session now upon us. Quinn says there’s no deadline, but there is a cost to lawmakers taking their time.
“Legislators, by waiting, are costing taxpayers in Illinois millions of dollars by their lack of action, by their delay, so it is imperative for legislators to understand (that) this is the time to vote on a bill, pass a bill, put it on the governor’s desk so I can sign it into law and get this issue resolved,” he said.
The state is dealing with an unfunded pension liability of $100 billion after decades of under-funding the pension plans. Quinn says that liability grows by $5 million a day under current law.
The proposals under consideration mainly address the cost of living adjustment that beneficiaries get. Some proposals raise the retirement age, and there are proposals that raise or lower the employee contribution.
Legislation to enforce mandatory minimum prison sentences for felony gun convictions may also be considered.
