Action on Monday includes a vote to override the governor’s veto on a Chicago police / fire pension bill.
“This was a negotiated settlement,” said Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago). “Compared to what we’ve done for the Downstate police and fire pension funds, which has resulted in 43 years of additional extensions to give them a forty-year cycle, this is simply saying that Chicago should have that same forty-year cycle.”
State Sen. Dale Righter (R-Mattoon) said the bill goes against the theme of “pension parity,”actually giving Chicago a better deal.
In the House, Republicans were more vocal. State Rep. David Harris (R-Arlington Heights) said as much as it pained him to go against Rauner, he had to. Harris was one of three Republicans voting Yes, the other being State Reps. Mike McAuliffe (R-Chicago) and David McSweeney (R-Barrington Hills). Two representatives, John Cabello (R-Machesney Park), voted Present. State Rep. Andy Skoog (D-La Salle) did not vote.
In the Senate, it was a straight party-line vote with the following exceptions: State Sen. Sam McCann (R-Plainview) voted Yes, and State Sen. Willie Delgado (D-Chicago) was absent.
The veto – issued Friday afternoon – led to a long-distance exchange of words between Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Gov. Bruce Rauner. Emanuel said the veto was a message that Chicago taxpayers to “take a hike.” Rauner said Emanuel ought to try showing up in Springfield sometime.
After the House vote, Rauner press secretary Catherine Kelly e-mailed the following statement:
“It’s unfortunate that the legislature voted again to allow the City of Chicago to borrow $843 million at an interest rate of 7.75% from their pensions, putting an additional $18.6 billion on the backs of taxpayers. Clearly, those who supported this measure haven’t recognized what happens when governments fail to promptly fund pension obligations. Instead of kicking the can down the road, local and state governments should instead focus on reforms that will grow our economy, create jobs and enable us live up to the promises we’ve made to police and firefighters.”
The Senate voted to override the governor’s veto of SB 777, 39-19.
The House voted to override the governor’s veto of SB 777, 72-43-2.
