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One of the highly anticipated issues awaiting their homecoming is a
measure that would continue a freeze on electric rates for three
more years, preventing utility companies like ComEd and Ameren from
raising residential electric rates by up to 55 percent starting Jan.
1.
Additionally, lawmakers might expect to see legislation promoting
a possible statewide smoking ban, as well as a proposed minimum wage
hike, which many argue will once again jeopardize Illinois' job
climate by sending much-needed local jobs across the state border.
According to state Sen. Larry Bomke, R-Springfield, the state has
already far exceeded the federal minimum wage rate.
Already on the agenda are seven bills vetoed during the spring
legislative session: Senate Bill 185, 225, 2255, 2732, 2477, 2445
and 830.
The following measures received a total veto:
Senate Bill 185 would have allowed the Metropolitan Water
Reclamation District Board to increase their salaries by two-thirds
vote prior to Jan. 1, 2007. The governor vetoed the bill on the
premise that the pay increase would be untimely and unnecessary.
Senate Bill 2255 would have added an assistant director of
personnel to the exempt list of those jobs required to take an
examination under the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Act.
The governor vetoed this legislation, stating that he isn't
convinced that the assistant director should not benefit from civil
service protections.
Senate Bill 2555 would have amended the Mosquito Abatement
District Act to provide a means for annexation without referendum,
in order to help mosquito districts that were servicing territory
within a municipality to keep up with the growth of the municipality
through annexation. The governor vetoed this bill, stating that
annexation which results in an extension of taxes should be decided
by the voters.
Senate Bill 2732 would have required firms and individuals
licensed under the Illinois Public Accounting Act to undergo a peer
review in order to renew their license. This legislation was vetoed
because an identical bill had already been signed into law, and
therefore this legislation was unnecessary.
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 The governor recommended changes to the following:
Senate Bill 2477 would allow the Peoria Public Building
Commission to build schools. However, the governor recommends that
the Peoria school district be excluded from a provision that
requires a municipal corporation to conduct a public hearing before
entering into a lease with a public building. The district would
also be excluded from the provision that requires the school
district to levy or collect a tax in an amount sufficient to pay the
annual rent to the building commission.
There are concerns about this legislation, specifically calling
into question the decision to exclude the Peoria school district
from requirements allowing a public hearing, particularly when the
legislation allows the building commission to collect a tax that
hasn't even been brought before the voters.
Senate Bill 2445 would allow a liquor license to be issued and
renewed within 100 feet of a school for one particular Chicago
restaurant. The governor issued an amendatory veto that would
require the school principal of the affected school to deliver a
written statement to the local liquor commissioner specifying that
he or she has no objections to the issuance or renewal of this
businesses' liquor license.
Senate Bill 830 adds Bond County to the membership of the
Southwestern Illinois Development Authority. The governor's
amendatory veto allows him to appoint two new members to the group's
board; the number of governor appointees on the board would then
exceed the number of local, non-appointees on the board, potentially
giving him more control of the board.
The six-day fall veto session is scheduled to run Nov. 14-16 and
28-30.
[News release from
Sen. Larry Bomke]
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