The Governor has officially called the legislature back for Special Session next week on July 9th and 10th.  As you may recall, the legislature passed a budget that is about $2 billion out of balance and did not pass a capital plan for the State.  While the Senate passed revenue bills and the capital plan, the House did not.  The Governor wants the House of Representatives to vote on at least one of the revenue bills the Senate passed (the ability to take unspent dollars from certain special funds).  He also wants the House to pass the bills that provide for a new capital plan.  It is not clear that the votes for these bills are there, however, so the Governor may still be required to veto the budget bills outright or amendatorily veto the budget (line item cuts) to bring the budget into balance.  If the Governor amendatorily vetos the budget, it appears he will not cut the additional $400 million for education.    

I will send an e-mail next week with an update on the news from special session.
 
Sincerely,

Heather Steans 
State Senator – 7th District