Legislators should override Rauner’s amendatory veto

There are glimmers of hope in Washington and Springfield for bipartisan cooperation, but only if partisan “politics as usual” can be kept at bay. During the recent health care debate, Sen. John McCain implored his colleagues to return to “regular order.” Deliberate, careful debate and bipartisan cooperation are necessary.

In Springfield, there’s an opportunity to pursue a bipartisan approach to school funding. Senate Bill 1 would put into place a carefully crafted “evidence based” model; ensuring that all districts will not lose their current state funding and directing that additional resources go to districts with the highest needs. Gov. Bruce Rauner and several downstate legislators say they support over 90 percent of SB1 but contend it will send “downstate money” to Chicago and “bail out Chicago’s broken teacher pension system.”

Partisan politics again pits the needs and interests of Chicago against the rest of the state. SB1 seeks to treat all school districts in amore equitable way. The governor used his amendatory veto on SB1 Aug. 1. Chicago Public Schools is the only district in Illinois that bears the responsibility of funding its teacher pension plans. In every other Illinois school district, its local taxpayers do not pay the district’s share directly, it is paid out of state income taxes. A provision of SB1 would allow some funding for CPS’ current yearly pension payments. All Illinois legislators, as a signal of bipartisan cooperation, equitable school funding, the needs of students and the greater public good, should override the governor’s amendatory veto of SB1.