© 2024 WSIU Public Broadcasting
WSIU Public Broadcasting
Member-Supported Public Media from Southern Illinois University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

No Quorum in Illinois House, Veto Override Vote May Come Thursday

Images

Illinois House lawmakers intend to attempt an override of a budget-package veto in that chamber Thursday.

Deputy majority leader Representative Lou Lang says Democrats will attempt to reverse Gov. Bruce Rauner's veto of the $36 billion spending plan when enough members show up to vote.
The Senate moved swiftly Tuesday to override Rauner's vetoes. That sent them to the House. But fewer than 60 of 118 House members answered roll calls both Tuesday and Wednesday.

Lang says he can't answer for all the absences, but he mentioned three cases in which lawmakers are dealing with the death of a family member or friend, and other personal problems.

More than a dozen school superintendents gathered in the statehouse (Wednesday.

They say they were there to thank lawmakers who went out on a limb to raise taxes and send more money to schools.

But that gratitude was also their way of nudging lawmakers not to change their votes Thursday, when the House of Representatives will try to override Governor Bruce Rauner's budget veto.

Jeff Craig, superintendent of Aurora West schools, admonished lawmakers with something a teacher might tell students about their classroom or playground.
 
"I would strongly encourage all of our legislators and our governor to remember that however long or short their term is, that they leave the state of Illinois better than they found it."
 
Under the budget plan, the individual income tax rate would rise from its current level of 3-point-75 percent ... to 4-point-95 percent.

Governor Bruce Rauner says he’s doing everything he can to make sure the Illinois House of Representatives does not override his veto of a budget with a tax increase Thursday.

Governor Rauner Wednesday addressed reporters in Chicago for the first time in a week.

He said if lawmakers won’t agree to his agenda of a property tax freeze and term limits...then they should make $4 billion dollars in cuts rather than raise the income tax rate.

"This is not just a slap in the face to Illinois taxpayers. This is a two-by-four smacked across the foreheads of the people of Illinois."

15 House Republicans broke from Rauner to vote for the budget.

One of them - Representative Steve Andersson from Chicago’s far western suburbs - said he’s received death threats for voting yes.

 

As a WSIU donor, you don’t simply watch or listen to public media programs, you are a partner. By making a gift, you help WSIU produce, purchase, and broadcast programs you care about and enjoy – every day of the year.