SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Gov. Bruce Rauner said Friday he hopes Illinois lawmakers resume work to end an epic budget standoff next week when they return to Springfield for a brief session and not just focus on trying to override his vetoes.
The Republican governor said he wants to meet with legislative leaders Monday to discuss how to proceed, but Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan hasn’t responded. Madigan’s spokesman didn’t immediately respond to calls for comment.
Illinois hasn’t had a budget in more than 16 months, resulting in cuts to social service providers, some of whom have shut down altogether. Higher education institutions are receiving less funding than they have in the past and face an uncertain future.
The state is operating under a partial budget approved in June. But that spending plan was meant to last only until January, allowing lawmakers and the governor to wait until after the November elections to resume negotiations.
Rauner said it’s time to move past the elections, days after the conclusion of a contentious campaign season where the governor used his vast wealth to help Republicans defeat four Democratic House incumbents.
“Elections are rough all the way around and the good thing is they’re in the past,” the former venture capitalist said. He said focusing in the past would be a distraction.
“We should move past it. That’s what’s in the best interest of folks,” Rauner said.
With Rauner’s financial backing, Republicans eliminated the Democrats’ House supermajority, putting them four votes beneath the minimum needed to override his vetoes. Senate Democrats lost two seats, but they still have a supermajority.
It’s unclear how much progress the governor and leaders can make on a budget in the coming weeks and months because ruling Democrats remain at odds with Rauner’s call to pass business friendly, union-weakening legislation. Rauner also wants them to consider term limits and change the way legislative districts are drawn, but Democrats argue the governor is blocking a budget to pursue an agenda unrelated to the state’s finances.
Hours after Tuesday’s results, Madigan pledged in a statement to continue using his majority to “maintain a strong check on Bruce Rauner and his anti-middle class agenda.”
Lawmakers return to the state Capitol every year for a few days in November for what’s called a veto session because it’s their opportunity to override the governor on legislation he’s rejected. Because new lawmakers are not sworn in until January, Democrats continue to have the 71 votes needed in the House to override legislation Rauner vetoed this year.
In all, there are 35 vetoed bills lawmakers can try to override. One of those bills would create an automatic voter registration in Illinois. It passed with bipartisan support but Rauner vetoed it in August.
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