Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn says he hopes lawmakers will accomplish something during the second half of the fall veto session, after they failed to tackle any big issues during the first week of their session before Thanksgiving.
Both chambers of the General Assembly will be in session Tuesday, and they face a host of major issues – from making Illinois one of two states that allow same-sex civil unions; to expanding casino gambling; to finding a way to cope with Illinois’ chasmic budget deficit, which could reach $15 billion by the next fiscal year.
Legislators broke for Thanksgiving without tackling any major legislation. But Quinn said Tuesday he hopes they’ve had time to get their bearings after the Nov. 2 elections.
“Some people didn’t win the election and they’re still members of the General Assembly until their term ends,” Quinn said. “I believe in always running to the finish line. Even if things didn’t go your way, it’s important to finish in a way that makes you proud.”
The governor said he believes there will be a vote on a civil unions bill this week. The bill’s sponsor, Chicago Democratic state Rep. Greg Harris, has said he believes the measure will make it to the governor’s desk during this session, after years of trying to usher it through the General Assembly to no avail.
On fiscal issues, Quinn said he anticipates passage of a plan to borrow $4 billion to pay for state worker pensions. But the governor’s pet proposal – a one-percentage point income tax hike that he bills as a “surcharge” for education – may have to wait until after the new class of legislators is sworn in after the new year, the governor said.
Originally reported by Chicago Public Radio. Read the original article here.
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