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* I don’t know how many times I have to write this, but for the edification of some reporters, particularly in Chicago, let me make this perfectly clear: An amendatory veto is not a signature.
When the governor AV’s a bill, several things must happen before it can become law. The General Assembly can accept the changes in both chambers with a simple majority and then the governor must certify that the changes match his AV. The GA can override the veto and restore it to its original language with a three-fifths majority in both chambers. Or they can do nothing and the bill dies.
For years, the House Rules Committee has also subjected AV’s to constitutional scrutiny. If an AV drastically rewrites legislation, the action is ruled unconstitutional and it’s allowed to die in committee.
Whatever the case, an AV is not a signature, regardless of what you read in stories like this. The original AP stories on the governor’s amendatory veto of the BIMP bill also erroneously claimed that the governor had approved the measure. Not so.
* I say this because yesterday the governor said he wanted the General Assembly to send him a transit bailout bill so he could “improve” it…
Asked if he would sign legislation that increased the sales tax, Blagojevich hinted he might be able “to improve” a bill so that enough constituencies are satisfied. If it’s a bill that includes an increase in sales taxes to fund transit, then so be it, the governor said – just send it his way.
“If, however, the legislature believes in that (sales tax) bill, they ought to pass that bill and give me a chance to improve it,” Blagojevich told reporters in Chicago.
“There are a lot of creative things you could with the ability to rewrite legislation and I’ll leave it at that,” he added. “If they believe in that bill, they ought to pass that bill. We want them to pass something and give me the ability to act.”
* The headline over at Chicago Public Radio was “Blagojevich Softens on Transit Tax Bill.” Not true…
Another Chicago-area transit doomsday scenario is at hand, and the Illinois Governor appears to be softening his stance against a bill he fought last year.
* CTA Tattler blog, which is usually pretty good, also fell for it: “Gov: No more temporary bailouts; door open to sales tax hike”
Even more positive is the news that Blago might sign a bill that contained a tax hike, such as the 1/4 of 1% sales tax hike that SB 572 calls for.
Oy.
* Also, while we’re on the subject, if the governor does AV the transit bailout bill to simply transer regional gasoline sales take money from the state budget, he needs to be pressed hard about this new development…
Illinois ended 2007 with a record amount of unpaid bills, Comptroller Dan Hynes’ office said in a report issued Monday.
According to Hynes’ office, the backlog of outstanding bills stood at more than $1.7 billion. At the same time last year, the number was $1.33 billion.
Moreover, it is taking the office 34 business days to pay bills once they come in the door, compared to 22 days a year ago.
“Both the backlog volume and the number of days delayed represent record levels for the mid-point of the fiscal year,” the report says.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jan 8, 08 @ 10:17 am
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Perhaps his office should construct the Legislation and send to the House and Senate PRIOR to calling special (or NOT SO SPECIAL) sessions.
Comment by He makes Ryan Look like a Saint Tuesday, Jan 8, 08 @ 10:23 am
Rich:
This is your best post of the year. I read all those reports yesterday of how the Governor appears to be softening on Rep. Hamos’ bill and scratched my head. How could all of these reporters who profess to be the eyes and ears of the people say this? He hasn’t changed his position on the regional sales tax. He will veto it if it passes the GA. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if he used the veto as an opportunity to “improve” the bill with his GRT. He still holds illusions that he can get it passed.
Comment by GA Watcher Tuesday, Jan 8, 08 @ 10:48 am
=== If an AV drastically rewrites legislation, the action is ruled unconstitutional and it’s allowed to die in committee. ===
But the Gov alleges he recieved a C in con law, he would never act unconstituionaly.
Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Jan 8, 08 @ 10:49 am
From yesterday’s blog: “If you go to the state site, you’ll see this message…Join the Governor’s fight to protect mass transit service.”
Yesterday (and above), the Gov wants “the General Assembly to send him a transit bailout bill so he could “improve” it…”.
So, “waiting to get something to improve” is the same as “fighting for something”. Seems like Monty Python or Firesign Theater logic. If you are going to fight for something why not simply provide a written product, that will get a response. Requesting action from any group, but providing nothing of substance, results in nothing. Even if your idea gets rejected (improved?), you are at least providing some direction that could lead to an acceptable outcome.
Comment by zatoichi Tuesday, Jan 8, 08 @ 10:58 am
That’s PROFESSOR Miller to you!!
Rich - Thanks for making this one of the best and most informative web sites out there.
Comment by Trafficmatt Tuesday, Jan 8, 08 @ 11:15 am
And the media has given short shrift to the backlog of payments. It is as critical and overwhelming a problem as Illinois has seen in many years. Some agencies, which the state hires to do the state’s work, are waiting in January to be paid for services they provided in August. Many are borrowing money. Which is more shameful: the government not paying its bills or the media and public not caring that the state doesn’t pay community organizations who help the disabled, the addicted and the abandoned?
Comment by Ilrino Tuesday, Jan 8, 08 @ 11:26 am
Its not just that bills are back logged to the tune of 1.7 Billion, with a B. its not clear that there is money to pay all of the back logged bills (there is a reason they are back logged). This back log represents a form of debt for thew State that so far is being ignored. We dont just need pension funding, we need to make sure there is money on hand for what we already owe.
I owe, I owe, its off to Blago I go
Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Jan 8, 08 @ 11:46 am
Rich, I’d like to apologize on behalf of my neighbors in Chicago. We’re not familiar with how a legislature works and the relationship between the executive and legislative thingy.
Comment by Hugh Tuesday, Jan 8, 08 @ 12:16 pm
You ain’t seen nothing yet. 2008 is going to be a devastating year for Illinois. You killed the goose that layed the golden egg. Smoking ban in casinos and neighborhood taverns. Chicago already had a 20% decrease in sales taxes due to there $8.00 pack cigarettes. Most people I know no longer buy cigarettes in Illinois. Missouri has the cheapest cigarettes and they also have gambling.
East St.Louis will probably suffer the most. They used those revenues for law enforcement, schools and community programs.
So all you people who want to dictate everyones life. YOU need to now pick up the slack and pay your fair share of taxes.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jan 8, 08 @ 1:36 pm
I forgot to mention. Missouri River Boat Casinos are 1 1/2 minute drive across the bridge.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jan 8, 08 @ 1:54 pm
Anon, I think that highlights the problem of trying to build govt programs on sin taxes and gambling. The real issue is not that we banned smoking, its that the Govt made itself dependent for funding on gambling revenue in the first place.
Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Jan 8, 08 @ 2:22 pm
Good point, Ghost.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jan 8, 08 @ 2:24 pm
According to a leader of the house I talked to, they are going to pass the Hamos bill tomorrow or Thursday. If it makes it through the Senate and the governor “improves it”, does that mean it needs to be revoted on by both houses again?
Comment by Garp Tuesday, Jan 8, 08 @ 2:35 pm
Located in no mans land (rural Illinois). We just lost our independent pharmacy because the state lack of timely medi-caid reimbursements coupled with lower reimbursement rate. The other pharmacy is just hanging on.
Real casualties, and only in the medical services field are building up in Illinois simply because the state does not pay its bill on time.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jan 8, 08 @ 3:18 pm
I suppose the language that he used when it comes to that sales tax legislation was a bit vague. I read it for what I thought it meant but if this means he’ll still strike out the language in favor of something else then I wonder if that solves the problem.
Comment by Levois Tuesday, Jan 8, 08 @ 10:02 pm
Channel 20 in Springfield did this again tonight on the home care workers bill that Gov AV’d today. Said he approved it … even though it was amendatorily vetoed. Keep harping on this Rich.
Comment by You are so Right Rich Tuesday, Jan 8, 08 @ 10:33 pm
Unreal
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jan 8, 08 @ 10:36 pm
Except, in that case, it was negotiated in advance.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jan 8, 08 @ 10:36 pm
Why not let local communities decide whether/how they want to fund their local CTA line? How is the CTA a state problem?
As for gambling we need to prevent abuses of power resulting from the current oligopoly created by limited licenses. Perhaps we should either ban it completely or authorize it everywhere by anyone.
As a nation, our founding Revolutionary goal was to set people free to live as they chose, which we’ve repeatedly broadened in our history (freeing slaves, women voting, civil rights, etc.).
Bingo, 50/50 raffles, and the lottery are already legal throughout the state, so why not just let anyone gamble however they want anywhere in the state, especially in an age of online gambling. Just be sure to tax all of it, instead of favoring special interests.
Just as with other addictions, such as abuse of prescription drugs, cigarettes or alcohol, a better education and recovery program would be needed for gambling, but the greatly expanded revenues should cover the costs.
Decades ago when Las Vegas legalized gambling, former violent mobsters suddenly became legitimate businessemen, respectable citizens, and civic leaders. They also became more interested in and vested in constructively solving problems than destructively creating them.
Total bans like Prohibition just didn’t work very well, as they artificially create black markets that lead to gangs and violence, leaving Chicago with a bad reputation for mobs and corruption that still hangs over Illinois.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 9, 08 @ 1:41 am