29 July, 2017
Another day of special session for lawmakers ended quickly. The longer they wait to deliver the bill to the governor, the closer schools get to opening day. Gov. Bruce Rauner (R-IL) hoped by calling the session, the senate would send him an education funding bill, which was passed two months ago, to his desk.
We've been reaching out to local school districts in Southwest Illinois.
Now, Rauner is threatening to veto a bipartisan education funding reform measure created to ensure all IL students have access to a high-quality education.
This school budget issue has a trickle down effect, as well.
Along with the excitement that a new school year brings, there's a lot of concern about money. "Right now there's no assurance any money is going to be coming". We need to start investing in our state's next generation and stop pitting parts of this great state against the other! "Allow me to clarify: The governor has set July 31 as the drop-dead deadline for lawmakers to send him Senate Bill 1, the education funding bill".
Democrats for almost two months have held off on sending an evidence-based school funding bill to Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner because he's pledged-through an amendatory veto-to strip money for Chicago Public Schools that he has declared a "bailout".
"He's willing to hold the bill then, then let's have a negotiation".
Senate President John Cullerton has not yet delivered SB1 to the governor.
"President Cullerton: Turn in your homework". "We're all here. There is no excuse for us not to be working on that bill". "Gov. Rauner is focused on making sure schools open on time and that school funding is fair to both suburban and Chicago schools".
He's called Madigan "cold-blooded" and a "tyrant" who's taking money from schools outside Chicago.