Without Senate Bill 1229 becoming law, Rauner could try to impose his own terms should no further extensions be agreed upon, which could mean a strike if AFSCME opposes the final offer. Rauner wants a pay freeze and workers to pay more of their health insurance costs, and AFSCME wants wages to be increased 11.5 percent over four years, plus increased benefits.
While supporters say the legislation is needed to prevent an anti-union governor from forcing a strike and locking out employees – Rauner has promised he would not do so – opponents say it will eliminate the governor’s ability to get a grip on salaries and benefits for a cash-strapped state government in deep financial trouble.
The Senate on Wednesday voted to override the veto with two votes to spare, one which came from Republican state Sen. Sam McCann, of downstate Plainview, who said many of his constituents are state employees who support the measure. The House re-convenes Wednesday, but it is doubtful it will immediately take up the override.
Rauner blasted the Senate vote in a statement and implored the House not to finalize the override.
“Every senator who voted to overturn our veto chose special interests over the taxpayers. They made it abundantly clear that they’d rather raise taxes than stand up to the politically powerful. It is now up to House members to take the responsible, pro-taxpayer position and uphold our veto,” Rauner stated.
The bill passed the House with 67 votes, or four short of the three-fifths needed to override Rauner’s veto. Franks has split from Madigan on multiple occasions, most recently denying the speaker the three-fifths majority he needed to put a “millionaire tax” constitutional amendment to voters.
Regardless of Senate Bill 1229’s high profile, Franks called it a distraction from the ongoing budget battle between Rauner and the Democratic-dominated General Assembly – the state is now in its eighth week without a budget in place.
“I think that’s much more important than this sideshow. We’ve lost track of where we need to be,” Franks said.
Without Senate Bill 1229 becoming law, Rauner could try to impose his own terms should no further extensions be agreed upon, which could mean a strike if AFSCME opposes the final offer. Rauner wants a pay freeze and workers to pay more of their health insurance costs, and AFSCME wants wages to be increased 11.5 percent over four years, plus increased benefits.
While supporters say the legislation is needed to prevent an anti-union governor from forcing a strike and locking out employees – Rauner has promised he would not do so – opponents say it will eliminate the governor’s ability to get a grip on salaries and benefits for a cash-strapped state government in deep financial trouble.
The Senate on Wednesday voted to override the veto with two votes to spare, one which came from Republican state Sen. Sam McCann, of downstate Plainview, who said many of his constituents are state employees who support the measure. The House re-convenes Wednesday, but it is doubtful it will immediately take up the override.
Rauner blasted the Senate vote in a statement and implored the House not to finalize the override.
“Every senator who voted to overturn our veto chose special interests over the taxpayers. They made it abundantly clear that they’d rather raise taxes than stand up to the politically powerful. It is now up to House members to take the responsible, pro-taxpayer position and uphold our veto,” Rauner stated.
The bill passed the House with 67 votes, or four short of the three-fifths needed to override Rauner’s veto. Franks has split from Madigan on multiple occasions, most recently denying the speaker the three-fifths majority he needed to put a “millionaire tax” constitutional amendment to voters.
Regardless of Senate Bill 1229’s high profile, Franks called it a distraction from the ongoing budget battle between Rauner and the Democratic-dominated General Assembly – the state is now in its eighth week without a budget in place.
“I think that’s much more important than this sideshow. We’ve lost track of where we need to be,” Franks said.
Rep. Jack Franks still on the fence about override of AFSCME bill veto | Northwest Herald
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