Here’s an update after a rough week in Springfield for Veto Session.
Illinois Democrats Pass a $2.5 Billion Mass Transit Bailout
It was déjà vu all over again at the Capitol this week, with Illinois Democrats passing more tax hikes in the early morning hours of the final day of the fall veto session.
After months of behind-the-scenes negotiations, House Democrats dropped multiple versions of their mass transit bailout in the waning hours of veto session. This came after the Senate Democrats had passed their own mass transit bailout bill at the end of the spring session, a bailout funded by extremely unpopular taxes like a delivery tax on packages and food.
The House Democrats’ first version of their bailout bill also contained extremely unpopular tax hikes, including a 7% statewide amusement tax on events and streaming services, a $5 large event ticket surcharge (on top of the 7% amusement tax), a first of its kind tax on unrealized gains, and automated speed camera enhancements in safety zones. The Democrats’ initial tax hike plan was so untenable that even Gov. JB Pritzker immediately threw cold water all over it.
On the final night of veto session, the House Executive Committee held a subject matter hearing on the yet-to-be-filed second version of the House Democrats’ Mass Transit Bailout. House Republicans pointed out the absurdity of holding a hearing on legislation that hadn’t even been filed, read or analyzed by legislators or legislative staff.
Late on Thursday night, House Democrats finally filed their revised Mass Transit Bailout as Floor Amendment 3 to Senate Bill 2111. After debating the bill well past midnight, Democrats passed SB 2111 on a partisan roll call vote of 72-32-0. The Senate concurred by a vote of 36-21-0.
The Democrats’ Mass Transit Bailout includes $1.5 Billion in tax increases in the Chicago region and $1 Billion in higher Tollway charges to fix a $200 million transit fiscal cliff. The Democrats took a $200 million problem and turned it into a $2.5 billion solution.
The bill takes money from statewide gas taxes that we pay at the pump. Previously, Downstate received 55% of the sales tax on motor fuel, going forward only 10% will go to Downstate communities for roads and bridges while the rest goes to this bailout.
Democrats’ “Green New Giveaway” an $8 Billion Hit to Ratepayers
Democrats continued their assault on Illinois families this week with the passage of their “Green New Giveaway” energy scam, Senate Bill 25.
The bill includes battery storage portfolio standards and allows utilities to recover those costs from ratepayers and gives the ICC power to change the cap on rates. Much like it did for wind and solar, counties and municipalities will not be able to have local control over the siting of local battery storage facilities.
Rate hikes are coming for families across Illinois as this bill passes on $8 billion of costs to families and businesses who pay electric bills.
House Republicans support a comprehensive, all-of-the-above energy approach that can meet demand, is reliable, and doesn’t cost consumers an arm and a leg.
While there is some good in this bill, such as the repeal of the nuclear construction ban, it’s crammed between handouts for special interests and rate hikes for consumers.
This proposal makes it less likely that job creators will locate their business in Illinois. Small businesses this past summer saw their electricity rates double and triple from last summer.
Illinois lawmakers approve ban on civil immigration arrests in state courthouses
After weeks of verbally condemning the federal immigration crackdown in the Chicago region, Illinois lawmakers approved legislation banning civil immigration arrests in and around state courthouses early Friday morning.
House Bill 1312, among other provisions, would also allow Illinois residents to sue immigration agents who violate their constitutional right to due process and protection against unreasonable searches and seizures.
It heads to Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker’s desk after clearing the Illinois Senate 40-18 and the Illinois House 75-32 in the waning hours of [the] annual fall veto session.
The bill also allows Illinois residents to sue immigration agents for violating their constitutional rights. They would be able to collect punitive damages, which can be increased if the agents are wearing a mask, concealing their identity, failing to wear a body camera or using a vehicle with a non-Illinois or obscured license plate.
Law enforcement groups like the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police and the Illinois Sheriff’s Association cited concerns with implementation and unintended consequences.
Read more from Capitol News Illinois.
Democrats Decouple from OBBB Tax Relief, Hurting Illinois’ Economy
Decoupling Illinois’ tax code from the federal tax code also passed the Illinois General Assembly in the early morning hours on Halloween.
State government spending has increased $16 billion, or 43%, since Pritzker took office in 2019.
The decoupling bill was approved by the Illinois Senate at 2 a.m. Friday.
I don’t disagree with everything in this bill, but I spoke during debate about my concerns with decoupling. Watch them here.
Read more from The Center Square.
Senate Passes Assisted Suicide
During the Spring legislative session, you may recall the House passed SB1950 which would allow for medical aid in dying – also known as assisted suicide.
One of the bright spots was that this bill was not picked up in the Senate in the Spring, and we were hopeful that it received enough opposition to not pass the Senate. Unfortunately, the Senate passed the bill in the wee hours of Halloween, and it now heads to Governor Pritzker’s desk.
Last week was rough.
I heard from many colleagues about how last week’s veto session was worse than we’ve seen. The session is dedicated for the legislature to vote on overriding any vetoes from the Governor; however, the supermajority Democrats used it as an excuse to pass some of the largest and most important pieces of legislation we’d see during a regular legislative session.
It remains an honor to represent you in the General Assembly, even when the going gets rough.
Narcan Seminar in Roxana
This Thursday, November 6 I am hosting a Narcan Seminar and Giveaway at the Roxana Village Hall. There will be two seminars, one at 1:00pm and one at 2:00pm, designed to educate on the uses of Naloxone (Narcan) and following the seminars attendees can take home their own Naloxone to use in an emergency.
