Rep. Steven Andersson (R-Geneva) and 9 other GOP House members joined Democrats to override Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of three budget bills. The vote puts to end a budget impasse that lasted more than two years.
Senate Bills 6, 9 and 42 passed the House and Senate but were vetoed swiftly by Rauner. The Senate moved just as fast to override the governor’s veto on Tuesday. With the House’s vote today, the budget bills are set to take immediate effect, including a permanent income tax increase.
GOP legislators who also voted to override Rauner's veto were Reps. Reginald Phillips (R-Charleston), Terry Bryant (Mt. Vernon), Mike Fortner (R-West Chicago), Norine K. Hammond (R-Macomb), David Harris (R-Mount Prospect), Chad Hays (R-Danville), Sara Wojcicki Jimenez (R-Springfield), Bill Mitchell (R-Forsyth) and Michael D. Unes (R-East Peoria).
All the representative who voted to override SB 9 also cast yes votes on SB 6, with the exception of Rep. Dave Severin, who voted yes on SB 6 and no in SB 9.
Rep. David McSweeney (R-Barrington Hills) said that regardless of a budget being passed, the future of the state’s bond rating is junk because no substantial reforms have been put in place.
“What we’re seeing now is that if we pass this tax increase, Moody’s is telling us that we are going to junk,” McSweeney said. “They’re giving us a road map that this state is going to junk because this budget is full of smoke and mirrors, and this budget is not going to accomplish fundamental reforms. It’s not going to change pensions. It’s not going to change Medicaid. What we do know for sure is that this budget is going to hurt people.”
Republican leaders have said the bills cut off further negotiations and don’t include the kind of reform the state needs long term. In all, 10 Republicans voted to override Rauner’s veto.
SB 6 sets up a $36 billion state budget. SB 9 is expected to raise more than $5 billion in revenue through personal income and corporate tax hikes. And SB 42 is known as a “paperwork” bill that implements the budget.
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