* SJ-R…
Illinois lawmakers late Wednesday approved a school funding reform measure, the first significant overhaul of the state’s system of funding public schools in decades.
The Senate gave final approval to Senate Bill 1 by a 35-22 vote. The House approved the bill earlier in the evening.
The legislation can now be sent to Gov. Bruce Rauner, where it faces an uncertain future. Republican lawmakers complained that the bill was changed in the House at the last minute to give hundreds of millions of dollars in additional money to Chicago schools.
The bill was the culmination of years of negotiating by Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill. His goal was to change the school funding formula so that more state money is directed at the neediest school districts.
The General Assembly’s website has been down this morning, but the Senate Democrats filed a motion to reconsider the vote last night after SB 1 passed.
* I asked what the hold was about, and here’s their texted response…
Slow down the process and dial down the rhetoric in hopes of getting it signed by the governor who promised to overhaul state education funding.
I was also told that the hold would last only up to 30 days. ADDING: There was a miscommunication. The hold stops the 30-day clock to send legislation to the governor. It can be held indefinitely. I thought that was what was going on, but it was a late night and an early, hectic morning. Sorry.
*** UPDATE *** Sun-Times…
Governor Bruce Rauner said Thursday that he would not sign an education funding reform bill that passed both houses of the Illinois General Assembly Wednesday night just before the legislative session ended. […]
“In its current form, absolutely not,” Rauner told the Chicago Sun-Times. “The amendment on there really amounts to an unfair-to-Illinois-taxpayers bailout of CPS.” […]
Rauner, however, said bills drafted by State Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, and Sen. Jason Barickman, R-Bloomington, should be used as a “base for a deal.”
“We were going down that road but then the majority in the House kind of hijacked the process, added a big addendum, a big amendment onto Manar’s bill with massive more financing for Chicago Public Schools. That’s not fair for the statewide taxpayers. So we’ve got to get that out,” Rauner said. “Within the context of the bills I think coming up with a balance that works for everybody and gets more resources for Chicago Public Schools, I’m supportive of that. So hopefully we can keep working to get it done.”
* I asked Senate President Cullerton’s spokesman for a response…
This is the kind of premature rejection from the governor we’re hoping to avoid. Hopefully, cooler heads will prevail.
- Honeybear - Thursday, Jun 1, 17 @ 9:59 am:
Dial down the rhetoric- psshhhhh…please
You can’t dial down the rhetoric when the
NUKE HAS BEEN LAUNCHED!
- winners and losers - Thursday, Jun 1, 17 @ 11:07 am:
Yes, SB 1 can be held indefinitely.
The Grand Bargain is still being attempted, only this time directly with the Governor.
- JS Mill - Thursday, Jun 1, 17 @ 11:49 am:
=Yes, SB 1 can be held indefinitely.
The Grand Bargain is still being attempted, only this time directly with the Governor.=
LOL
- Cubs in '16 - Thursday, Jun 1, 17 @ 1:11 pm:
===This is the kind of premature rejection…===
More impotence from a dysfunctional administration.
- Mama - Thursday, Jun 1, 17 @ 1:18 pm:
“Republican lawmakers complained that the bill was changed in the House at the last minute to give hundreds of millions of dollars in additional money to Chicago schools.”
Was hundreds of millions of dollars in additional money actually added to Chicago schools? Not sure what to believe anymore.
- Michelle Flaherty - Thursday, Jun 1, 17 @ 1:25 pm:
Someone should introduce the Rauner administration to the phrase: “We’ll take that under review.”
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 1, 17 @ 1:30 pm:
===This is the kind of premature rejection from the governor we’re hoping to avoid. Hopefully, cooler heads will prevail===
John Patterson… Trolling the “emotional” vetoes Rauner controls.
I’m excited that Rauner might own this veto…
… except when in Chicago… Rauner will blame “Madigan!”… but downstate… “Rauner sticking it to Chicago” ownership…
- winners and losers - Thursday, Jun 1, 17 @ 1:33 pm:
==Was hundreds of millions of dollars in additional money actually added to Chicago schools?==
Yes, up to $400 million for pensions and block grants. Actually added to the Base Funding Minimum for CPS to equalize payments for pensions plus still give the money previously given to CPS in block grants.
- Precinct Captain - Thursday, Jun 1, 17 @ 1:50 pm:
The governor loves education funding reform when it means more money for white kids in Winnetka! Forget black, brown, or white kids anywhere else in Illinois.
- 51st ward - Thursday, Jun 1, 17 @ 2:38 pm:
the state should not be paying the cost of Chicago teacher pensions. For some silly reason the Chicago Board of Ed decided to have the teachers pick up 0% of their pension and the taxpayers are paying the whole thing, no way this should occur Have the teachers kick in 8-10% of their salary for pension like other workers do.
- Mama - Thursday, Jun 1, 17 @ 3:18 pm:
Will CPS have to close if they don’t get that extra $400 million?
- JS Mill - Thursday, Jun 1, 17 @ 3:19 pm:
=Yes, up to $400 million for pensions and block grants.=
Show your math…..
- Michelle Flaherty - Thursday, Jun 1, 17 @ 3:36 pm:
51st, you might be surprise how many downstate and suburban school districts do the exact same thing even as the state picks up the employer costs.
- winners and losers - Thursday, Jun 1, 17 @ 4:42 pm:
==Will CPS have to close if they don’t get that extra $400 million?==
No.
- D.Dean - Friday, Jun 2, 17 @ 10:48 am:
Three words: line-item veto