Lawmakers encourage passage of nine specific measures during upcoming Veto Session
In the wake of the numerous, ongoing federal investigations involving bribery, influence peddling and insider-trading impacting state government officials and lobbyists, a broad coalition of lawmakers gathered today to announce their support for nine specific ethics reform measures that they believe could receive bi-partisan support in the upcoming veto session.Democratic lawmakers from both the Illinois House of Representatives and Illinois Senate say their proposals would dramatically increase transparency and take meaningful strides toward restoring public trust in state government. Specifically, lawmakers point to nine steps that relate directly to the activities of lobbyists, legislators, and General Assembly leadership:
SPRINGFIELD – Yesterday, Gov. JB Pritzker vetoed House Bill 3902, which would reinstate Illinois’ sales tax exemption for aircraft materials, prioritizing jobs in the aviation-repair industry and allowing business to compete with 35 other states.
State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) issued the following statement:
“The reality of the situation is that this exemption helps our state remain competitive in the aviation industry, and it needs to be reinstated. Without it, aviation companies will outsource these good-paying jobs to other states. We should prioritize the nearly 3,400 jobs across the state that are being threatened due to the governor’s decision.”
Peoria is home to Byerly Aviation, a state of the art facility offering maintenance, charters, and aircraft sales.
SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Don Harmon (D-Oak Park), issued the following statement after Gov. JB Pritzker vetoed his legislation changing rules for court reporters:“Today, at my request, Governor Pritzker vetoed my Senate Bill 2128, a bill intended to improve the practice of court reporting in Illinois. “After the bill passed the General Assembly, I became aware of consequences unintended at the time that would be very disruptive to pending litigation and the practice of trial law if the bill became law.
SPRINGFIELD – Assistant Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D – Maywood) released the following statement today after news that Governor Rauner vetoed her proposal that would have guaranteed students receive cursive writing instruction in elementary school:
“The governor’s veto threatens the ability of students to learn a fundamental skill that they will need going through life. Practical benefits, including writing a check, developing a motor skill and even interpreting historical documents like our Constitution, all require using and understanding cursive writing.
SPRINGFIELD — Assistant Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) released the following statement after Governor Bruce Rauner vetoed legislation that would have increased the statewide minimum to $15 per hour by January 2022.
“Governor Rauner’s veto doubles down on his stance against some of our most vulnerable communities. Throughout his term he has irresponsibly cut the child care assistance program, held up grant money for low-income college students and caused severe damage to our social services through a historic budget stalemate.
“There is no reason why a single parent working full-time should qualify for food stamps and Medicaid. Our workers deserve financial independence and the empowerment that comes from being able to provide for a family.
“Our fight does not end here. I will continue to stand for hardworking people struggling to make ends meet as I have done my entire career because I know the difference a living wage can make in a person’s life, in our communities and in our entire state.”
SPRINGFIELD – A plan to give Lake County voters the say in who runs their county’s $500 million operation was vetoed today by Governor Rauner. The plan, Senate Bill 669, would have allowed for voters to have a referendum in 2018 to determine if their county board chairman should be elected countywide. Currently, the chairman is selected amongst the board members themselves. “The voters should have a say on how they want to elect their county board chairman,” State Senator Terry Link (D-Vernon Hills) said. “I am disappointed the governor would veto a plan that gives the voters a chance to have more control in who runs their county government.”
SPRINGFIELD — In an effort to ensure Gov. Bruce Rauner doesn’t further damage the state’s child care system, Majority Caucus Whip Iris Y. Martinez (D-Chicago) passed legislation to the governor’s desk that protects health care benefits for home child care providers.
Today, the governor vetoed this measure.
“I am frustrated, but not surprised, that the governor doesn’t want to safeguard benefits of child care workers,” Martinez said. “The employees who serve our children and families deserve to have their health care benefits protected.”
SPRINGFIELD- State Senator Dan Kotowski (D-Park Ridge) issued the statement below in response to Governor Rauner’s amendatory veto of House Bill 1. The legislation, passed earlier in the year by Kotowski, creates a multi-faceted approach to stopping heroin and opioid abuse by:
The governor's amendatory veto removes funding for treatment programs targeting low-income individuals.
"Investing in programs to help individuals struggling with drug addiction – regardless of socio-economic status – gives those people an opportunity to break the cycle of addiction and remain productive members of society. Failing to fund these programs now will cost taxpayers substantially more in the long run.
"Signing this landmark legislation, which passed both the House and Senate with large bipartisan majorities, would have saved lives and had an immediate impact in the fight to curb the exploding heroin epidemic taking over our communities and schools.
"While I am encouraged that Governor Rauner acknowledges the growing heroin and opioid problem in our state, we owe it to the victims, families and youth of our communities to take action now."