House & Senate Cancel Veto Session
The Illinois House of Representatives chamber in Springfield.
A Democratic state representative tells The Illinoize that House Speaker Michael Madigan’s Chief of Staff, Jessica Basham, has announced the cancelation of the fall veto session, scheduled for next week and the week after Thanksviging. We’re told the Senate is also cancelling session days.
Governor JB Pritzker said Tuesday he would be “disappointed” if the chamber chose not to come back to Springfield next week, but among spiking COVID-19 cases and mitigations in place all around the state, many lawmakers had concerns about conduction session safely.
Though Rep. Avery Bourne (R-Morrisonville), said in a news conference Tuesday she hoped the legislature returned and processes in place in May showed the House could meet without spreading the coronavirus.
Democratic lawmakers and Governor Pritzker had intended to push a criminal justice reform package through during the veto session. Many have indicated that work would have to be done on the state budget, which is estimated some $5 billion out of balance. There have even been discussions about Democrats passing an income tax increase during the “lame duck” session.
It is unclear if there is a targeted date for return before the new legislature must be sworn in to office in early January.