| August 22, 2008 |
| Springfield Update |
| Legislative Session The Senate met last week to consider amendatory vetoes that the Governor made to two House Bills (5285 and 4201). We approved the amendatory veto of HB5285 which enables unmarried, dependents to remain on their parents’ health insurance plans until the age of 26 (or until the age of 30 for disabled veterans). In classic Springfield style, this amendatory veto represents good public policy through a substantially compromised and potentially unconstitutional vehicle. Under the Illinois State Constitution, the Governor has authority to make amendatory vetoes to any Bill approved by both Houses of the General Assembly. This amendatory veto authority has generally been interpreted by Illinois courts to be limited to technical changes and/or very specific policy disagreements that relate to the Bill presented. We need to limit the Governor’s amendatory veto power in this way to prevent the Governor’s executive power from totally subsuming the role of our legislative branch of government. In the case of HB5285, the Governor has probably gone too far in rewriting a Bill. I personally decided to vote for the Governor’s amendatory veto both because I support the broad purposes of expanding health care for more Illinois residents and because I believe we need the Illinois Supreme Court to resolve if the Governor has constitutional authority to make such sweeping changes to a Bill. In all likelihood, the next step for this piece of legislation will be a court challenge to the Governor’s authority to make such a broad amendatory veto change. The second amendatory veto to HB4201 which would have exempted disabled military veterans from paying property taxes was not accepted by the Senate. New Senate Leadership Senate President Emil Jones recently announced his retirement from the State Senate effective in January 2009. Senator Jones’ retirement presents a major opportunity to reshape Illinois’ political landscape. The Senate must use this chance to improve both the substance and process of how we make decisions. My vote for the next Senate President will be based on two core criteria. First, the Illinois State Senate must continue its record of support for progressive issues such as human rights, educational funding reform, and more and better health care for all of our residents. Equally important, however, the next Senate President must have a much more open and transparent leadership style that allows more rank and file Senators to participate in policy formation. Illinois voters want and deserve more access to how and why decisions are being made by their elected representatives. In addition to making my vote for the next Senate President conditioned on a more open and transparent leadership style, I have begun to work on reform of the State Senate rules. Our Senate rules determine who leads us in the Senate and how, when and if legislation is considered for a vote. Many of my Senate colleagues understand we all need to play a larger role in decisions about what is voted on and when in order to better represent our constituents and be held accountable for these decisions. I am optimistic that we will obtain better Senate rules that will both strengthen my role as your representative in Springfield and hold me more accountable for results. I will keep you apprised of new developments as my efforts to help elect a progressive Senate President that believes in transparent government continue. |