Lawmakers set to return Tuesday for veto session

Oct. 21--Gun control, government transparency, student loan reform and more could be on the table this week as the General Assembly begins the annual ritual of the fall veto session.

Lawmakers are scheduled to return Tuesday for what is now scheduled to be three days of sessions to begin dealing with possibly overriding bills vetoed by Gov. Bruce Rauner and taking up additional issues that have arisen since lawmakers last met in Springfield in August.

Here are a few things to look for as the veto session gets underway.

Republican revolt

Rauner angered many Republicans when he signed into law House Bill 40 that protects abortion rights and provides public funding for abortions in Illinois. Rauner has always maintained that he is pro-choice and during his campaign, he filled out a questionnaire stating his support for the kind of provisions in HB 40.

In April, though, he said he would veto the bill. When he ultimately signed it, many Republicans said they could no longer support the governor.

The outrage fueled speculation that an opponent might surface to challenge Rauner in the primary, although none has so far.

It also fueled speculation that Republicans could abandon Rauner on legislative issues. The veto session could provide evidence if there is a Rauner backlash among Republican lawmakers.

"I think the mindset of many lawmakers is likely going to be one where they attempt to vote in the interests of their districts," said Sen. Jason Barickman, R-Bloomington. "Union issues have been discussed at length the last few years. I think there are Republicans who will give consideration to the interests of their districts when they approach union-related bills or others. I think it is too soon to predict how that all plays out."

Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer, R-Jacksonville, said that while many Republicans are still upset at Rauner, it doesn't mean they'll abandon their principles to send a message to the governor.

"At the end of the day, we still stand for something," he said. "We're not going to do anything to destroy the state's economy just because we're upset with the governor. If it's going to make the state worse off, we're not going to do it."

Debt Transparency

Comptroller Susana Mendoza has mounted a full-court press to have lawmakers override Rauner's veto of House Bill 3649. The bill requires state agencies to issue monthly reports detailing unpaid bills still sitting in the agencies waiting to be paid. Currently, the agencies are only required to report the information yearly.

Rauner vetoed the bill, saying it was an attempt by Mendoza to micro-manage state agencies. Mendoza has said the information is necessary because she still has to juggle payments to vendors because the state doesn't have the financial resources to pay all of its bills on time. She said she needs complete information about outstanding bills to be able to that effectively.

The override is getting support from lawmakers of both parties. Rep. Tim Butler, R-Springfield, initially opposed the bill, but now says he is reconsidering.

"I'm taking a closer look at it," Butler said. "Obviously, transparency is a big deal. But I also understand some of the arguments from the governor's office as well."

Gun control

In the wake of the Las Vegas shootings, several gun control measures have been introduced and will get hearings in a House committee next week.

Rep. Martin Moylan, D-Des Plaines, introduced a comprehensive bill that would ban "bump stocks" which greatly increase the rate of fire of weapons. His bill would also ban the sale of assault weapons, .50-caliber rifles and magazines that carry more than 10 rounds.

Rep. Scott Drury, D-Highwood, has introduced a bill limited to banning bump stocks.

Barickman said the key concern for him is whether a bill "addresses the issue at hand or it is an overreach. The more narrow the restriction, the more likely it will have legislative support."

Capital plan

There is rare bipartisan agreement that the state could use a new capital construction program -- both because the state desperately needs to upgrade roads and other infrastructure, and for the jobs and other economic development it would create. It's also generally popular with lawmakers who can boast about bringing projects to their districts.

What apparently is lacking is agreement on how to pay for the plan, especially after lawmakers approved a 32 percent increase in the state income tax in July to help balance the budget.

House Republican Leader Jim Durkin of Western Springs recently told a gathering of business leaders that he thought it unlikely a capital bill would get done during the abbreviated veto session.

Butler said that's probably a good idea.

"I think we need to have a really serious conversation and I think we need to do a series of hearings before we start talking about a capital bill to get to a capital program that is sustainable," he said. "this is a big issue that we have put off for far too long, but I do think it is something that is not going to happen in the near future."

Life insurance

Lawmakers are expected to try and override Rauner's veto of a bill requiring life insurance companies to take greater efforts to see that benefits are paid to beneficiaries.

The bill is an initiative of Treasurer Mike Frerichs who said some beneficiaries are being denied payments they are rightfully due.

Rauner used his amendatory veto powers to rewrite sections of the bill, but Frerichs said the changes weakened the bill.

Student loans

Attorney General Lisa Madigan wants lawmakers to override Rauner's veto of her Student Loan Bill of Rights bill.

The bill is intended to rectify what Madigan said are widespread abuses in the student loan industry. Among other things, the bill requires lenders to give complete and accurate information about repayment options to keep borrowers from sinking even further into debt. She said the bill was intended to address issues the Congress has so far failed to address.

Rauner vetoed the bill because he said it encroaches on federal responsibilities and further complicates the student loan process.

Property tax relief

A property tax relief bill that passed the Senate last summer, but was never voted on in the House is on the list of bills to be heard in the House Executive Committee next week.

It is unclear what the House Democratic majority plans to do with the bill. An amendment has been filed that would erase the language currently in the bill which would make it available for some other legislation.

The Senate passed property tax relief bills last spring, but they were not considered in the House. Instead, House Democrats forged their own proposal that Republicans said was riddled with loopholes that would still allow property tax increases.

The bill fell short of the votes needed to pass.

-- Contact Doug Finke: [email protected], 788-1527, twitter.com/dougfinkesjr.

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Four issues to watch

* Gun control: Some measures seek to ban "bump stocks" in the wake of the Las Vegas shooting.

* Debt: Should state agencies have to report more often on their unpaid bills?

* Property tax: A property tax relief bill that passed the Senate last summer could resurface.

* Capital plan: Lawmakers from both parties would like a capital projects bill, but it's not clear that will happen.

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