Senate Democrats Override Rauner's Veto of AFSCME Arbitration Bill

SPRINGFIELD — The state Senate on Wednesday overrode Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of the interest arbitration or “no strike-no lockout” bill — much to the governor’s displeasure.

The Republican governor’s veto of Senate Bill 1229 was overridden on a vote of 38-15, with one Republican — Sen. Sam McCann of Carlinville — joining Democrats in support of override. The bill now goes to the House.

After the early evening vote in the Senate, the governor issued a short statement:

“Every Senator who voted to overturn our veto chose special interests over the taxpayers,” the governor said. “They made it abundantly clear that they’d rather raise taxes than stand up to the politically powerful. It is now up to House members to take the responsible, pro-taxpayer position and uphold our veto.”

Earlier Wednesday, speaking to reporters before his Governor’s Day speech at the Illinois State Fair, Rauner said the vote was a test of Senate President John Cullerton’s control over his chamber.

“Today is a test for President Cullerton. Is he controlled by Speaker (Michael) Madigan or… is he independent and can make his own decisions. Is the Senate under the thumb of the Speaker or not,” Rauner said.

Read the rest of this story at Reboot Illinois-->