General Assembly veto session: First week Review
Here’s a recap of some of the issues before Illinois lawmakers after the first week of the veto session.
Utilities
Lawmakers quickly voted to override Gov. Pat Quinn’s veto of the so-called “smart grid” bill.
The legislation provides financial incentives to Commonwealth Edison and Ameren to upgrade their infrastructure, including installation of smart-grid technology. Quinn vetoed the bill as being anti-consumer. Lawmakers also approved a companion bill they said would make the original bill more consumer-friendly.
Gambling
The Senate put together a bill that incorporated provisions of Quinn’s framework for an acceptable gambling expansion bill. That included no slot machines at horse racing tracks, including the Illinois State Fairgrounds. The administration labeled the bill a “charade.”
Most lawmakers assumed the bill would fail, signaling to Quinn that he should negotiate a compromise. The bill, though, was never called for a vote. Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, said he plans to meet with Quinn next week to discuss gambling expansion.
Regional superintendents
The House developed a plan to pay regional school superintendents out of personal property replacement tax money, but the measure fell short of passage when called for a vote. Some lawmakers don’t think regional superintendents are needed, and others don’t want to divert replacement tax money from the local governments that now receive it.
The bill could be called for another vote in two weeks.
Tenaska
A bill authorizing a $3.5 billion clean-coal technology plant for Taylorville failed in the Senate. Several senators said they were concerned that higher-cost power produced by the plant will drive up customer rates. Despite the setback, the bill could be called for another vote in two weeks.
Health insurance
Senators refused to override Quinn’s veto of a bill giving lawmakers a say over employee health insurance contracts awarded by the state. The bill also would have extended state health insurance contracts for two years. Lawmakers passed the bill after the state rejected bids from two longtime insurers as being too costly. The move ignited a heated backlash from employees faced with having to select new health insurance carriers.
Budget
Lawmakers took no action on reallocating money in the state budget to prevent layoffs and facility closures. They will be negotiating budget issues during the legislature’s one-week layoff and are expected to act on those proposals when they return in two weeks.
Pensions
A bill to alter pension benefits for current state employees could be called for a vote in two weeks. House Minority Leader Tom Cross, R-Oswego, says he has 30 of the 60 votes required for passage. The deal, which Cross said was brokered by the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago, calls for House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, to supply the other 30 votes needed for passage.
Utilities
Lawmakers quickly voted to override Gov. Pat Quinn’s veto of the so-called “smart grid” bill.
The legislation provides financial incentives to Commonwealth Edison and Ameren to upgrade their infrastructure, including installation of smart-grid technology. Quinn vetoed the bill as being anti-consumer. Lawmakers also approved a companion bill they said would make the original bill more consumer-friendly.
Gambling
The Senate put together a bill that incorporated provisions of Quinn’s framework for an acceptable gambling expansion bill. That included no slot machines at horse racing tracks, including the Illinois State Fairgrounds. The administration labeled the bill a “charade.”
Most lawmakers assumed the bill would fail, signaling to Quinn that he should negotiate a compromise. The bill, though, was never called for a vote. Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, said he plans to meet with Quinn next week to discuss gambling expansion.
Regional superintendents
The House developed a plan to pay regional school superintendents out of personal property replacement tax money, but the measure fell short of passage when called for a vote. Some lawmakers don’t think regional superintendents are needed, and others don’t want to divert replacement tax money from the local governments that now receive it.
The bill could be called for another vote in two weeks.
Tenaska
A bill authorizing a $3.5 billion clean-coal technology plant for Taylorville failed in the Senate. Several senators said they were concerned that higher-cost power produced by the plant will drive up customer rates. Despite the setback, the bill could be called for another vote in two weeks.
Health insurance
Senators refused to override Quinn’s veto of a bill giving lawmakers a say over employee health insurance contracts awarded by the state. The bill also would have extended state health insurance contracts for two years. Lawmakers passed the bill after the state rejected bids from two longtime insurers as being too costly. The move ignited a heated backlash from employees faced with having to select new health insurance carriers.
Budget
Lawmakers took no action on reallocating money in the state budget to prevent layoffs and facility closures. They will be negotiating budget issues during the legislature’s one-week layoff and are expected to act on those proposals when they return in two weeks.
Pensions
A bill to alter pension benefits for current state employees could be called for a vote in two weeks. House Minority Leader Tom Cross, R-Oswego, says he has 30 of the 60 votes required for passage. The deal, which Cross said was brokered by the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago, calls for House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, to supply the other 30 votes needed for passage.
No offense blogger- but I don't think anyone in the 41st cares about state politics. In fact, I was at a community event the other night, and most people didn't know who their state rep or senator is. Posting info about state matters is a waste of time, just like posting anything about the fire department - no one really cares.
ReplyDeleteTo Anonymous Oct 28, 2011 10:02 am
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The politicians love is people like you who have their head buried in the sand and couldn't be bothered with state politics. I guess you really don't care how much you pay in sales or income taxes, or how much of a raise these legislators gave themselves. Here's another fact you probably couldn't be concerned with either. The 016 Police District encompasses the entire 41st ward and portions of 2 other wards and we have a total of 198 police officers protecting the largest geographical police district and that is the 3rd most populated while police districts in the ghetto are 1/3 rd the size and have ove twice the police officers we have. We do not have one artificial turf park district field yet they are all ofer the ghetto. Keep your head in the sand the politicians call you people good democrats.
Police and Fire Departments nationwide are understaffed because rich people and corporations do not pay their fair share of taxes. You can rant about "the ghetto" all day 12:31, it will not change that fact. You are the one with your head in the sand.
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