HIGHLAND - State Senator Kyle McCarter (R-Highland) lists these bills Governor Pat Quinn has vetoed as on the docket for discussion when they return for veto session Tuesday. Before January 1, a two-thirds majority will be required to override the governor's veto. On January 1 and before the new General Assembly is sworn in, a simple majority will be required to override a veto or pass any other legislation.
Senate Bill 681 was originally meant to allow Illinois residents to make online purchases of ammunition from Illinois-based businesses. Illinois residents can already buy ammunition online from suppliers outside of Illinois, but a glitch in the law prevented similar purchases from Illinois-based retailers. The Governor completely rewrote the proposal to turn it into a ban on semi-automatic firearms. The Governor’s changes are opposed by the sponsors of the original measure, who must decide if they will move to override the Governor’s changes or let the measure die and re-introduce the legislation next year.
Senate Bill 1849 authorized a casino for the City of Chicago, in addition to four new land-based casino licenses for other communities and gambling outlets at the state’s horseracing tracks. Although the Governor vetoed the measure, in recent weeks he has indicated an interest in negotiating an expansion of gambling, including a casino for Chicago. Gaming supporters are unlikely to attempt to override the Governor’s veto, but may instead try to negotiate a new measure.
Senate Bill 2332 was a major capitol construction funding bill. The Governor used his appropriation veto power to remove $11.3 million in funds for loans to fire departments, fire protection districts, township fire departments or non-profit ambulance services.
Senate Bill 2409 was another spending measure. The Governor used his power to reduce spending to cut $800,000 from the Department of Agriculture for the Centralia Animal Disease Laboratory. The Agriculture Department intends to close the Centralia lab and move responsibilities to a state lab based in Galesburg.
Senate Bill 2474 was signed into law but altered by the Governor to reduce or eliminate spending for several correctional facilities including prisons at Tamms and Dwight, and Illinois Youth Centers (IYC) in Murphysboro and Joliet. In all, the Governor cut $56 million from the measure.
Senate Bill 2945 was designed to give private cancer treatment centers the right not to hire persons who smoke or otherwise use tobacco. The Governor vetoed the measure.
Senate Bill 3442 was originally intended to set up one statewide regulation on the use of plastic bags instead of allowing local communities to regulate or ban the use of plastic bags. Concerns have been raised over the possibility that hundreds of cities and towns might pass their own version of regulations making it difficult and costly for businesses that operate throughout the state to comply with hundreds of different regulations. However, some environmental groups argued that the legislation was not aggressive enough and urged the Governor to veto the measure, which he did.
Senate Bill 3766 was a follow-up to legislation approved last year to encourage the building and operation of the Leucadia coal-to-gas energy plant in the Chicago south suburbs. This bill would have required two utilities to increase the amount of power they buy from the plant. The Governor vetoed the legislation, raising concerns that it could increase the cost of electricity for consumers. The plant’s developers have recently said they will likely move the project to another state.
House Bill 4673 would authorize the Illinois State Police to issue a Firearm Owner’s Identification Card (FOID) to law enforcement officials who have voluntarily undergone mental health treatment. The Governor altered the original bill requiring more oversight of when and to which officers the FOID cards are issued. He also inserted some protections for officers whose FOID card status or eligibility is being questioned. The original legislation grew out of a problem encountered by Chicago police officers. The City of Chicago requires that police officers have a valid FOID card, but state law required anyone undergoing in-patient mental health treatment to surrender their FOID card. This meant that an officer who voluntarily sought mental health treatment following a personal or professional trauma could lose his or her job.
House Bill 5207 originally dealt with the verification of signatures for petitions used to place proposed state constitutional amendments on the ballot. However, the Governor altered the proposal to allow voters to pass by referendum a local property tax increase to pay for special services for veterans.
