Previewing Veto Session
Governor JB Pritzker at the University of Illinois Thursday.
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Lawmakers return to Springfield Tuesday for the first week of the fall veto session and there are few answers to many pending questions.
House Speaker Chris Welch has already put to rest questions of if the legislature will appropriate more money for Chicago’s migrant crisis.
Quite possibly one of the most divisive issues facing the General Assembly is whether to renew the controversial “Invest in Kids” scholarship program. The program, which differs from government-funded vouchers used by other states, allows tax deductible donations to a non-profit that provide scholarships to economically disadvantaged areas.
House Democrat leaders told a caucus earlier this month they were “still polling” on the issue.
Earlier this week, supporters announced they had tweaked their proposal to funnel more money to economically struggling communities.
Governor JB Pritzker has seemed uninterested in putting any of his political cache into the debate. That continued Thursday when he spoke to reporters after an event on the University of Illinois campus.
“I will support it if it comes to my desk to extend the program in whatever form,” Pritzker said. “I can’t imagine it would show up in some form that [I] would be unwilling to, but the reality is the legislature needs to go through this process.”
Progressives and teachers unions continue to vehemently oppose the program.
Pritzker vetoed a bill sponsored by Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) that would lift the state’s moratorium on the construction of new nuclear energy facilities, in legislation aimed at small reactors in large business settings.
Rezin appear to be teeing up a veto override in the Senate, but has also introduced new language.
Pritzker said Thursday he believed the legislation was too wide-ranging.
Some pro-nuclear forces in the state believe the bill is dead and no version of it will be called in the House.
Pritzker also vetoed legislation giving downstate power company Ameren the right of first refusal to build transmission lines through their service territory.
Environmentalists opposed the perceived “monopoly” for the power company, and urged Pritzker to veto the bill.
House Sponsor Rep. Larry Walsh, Jr. (D-Elwood) has previously said he plans to call an override, but it isn’t clear if he’ll have the votes in the House.
Most sources we speak with, either lawmakers or lobbyists, say they don’t believe much will happen next week and the majority of the work will wait until the week of November 6, when lawmakers return for the second week of the annual veto session.
