Lawmakers unanimously supported the legislation Tuesday, sending the measure to the House. Also, the governor – while expressing his opposition to the Senate bill – lashed out at calls to treat CPS differently than other school districts in the state.
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The governor’s office blames Madigan for the layoffs saying in a statement that “Speaker Madigan and the legislators he controls passed an unbalanced budget that was $4 billion short”, and the layoffs are part of dealing with it.
More than a month into the new fiscal year, Illinois still lacks a budget as Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and legislative Democrats remain in a philosophical and political impasse.
Because lawmakers haven’t approved spending the funds, social service agencies that rely on the money have had to cut services or tap cash reserves.
On Monday, Meals on Wheels and the senior centers in East St. Louis and Cahokia closed their doors due to the Illinois budget standoff, said program officials. Many work for the Illinois State Museum, which Rauner has targeted for closure.
Democratic Sens. Kimberly Lightford of Maywood and Emil Jones of Chicago voted no. Rauner said all cities should be treated equally.
He said there is no need for a change in law because, “I have no interest in doing a lockout” of the 38,000 members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union.
Senate Democrats advanced legislation Tuesday to keep the 138-year-old state museum and its satellite locations open, noting it provides jobs and economic and cultural benefits.
That Rauner vetoed the bill came as no surprise.
Said Rauner, “They have not made any concessions”. The property tax freeze bill also includes language to help the Chicago Public Schools system pay its pension debt.
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He noted that Rauner said while campaigning for governor that he would shut down the government if needed to curb union influence, and that the administration has recently reached out to retired employees to ask if they’d be willing to work if needed.
