SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – A spokesman for House Speaker Michael Madigan says Democrats did not have enough votes to override a veto from Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner that eliminates $215 million in aid for Chicago Public Schools’ pension payments.
Senate Democrats used their supermajority Thursday to override the governor shortly after the veto but the House did not vote on the matter before adjourning for the year. Madigan spokesman Steve Brown says the assessment was they “would not be able to override.”
Rauner vetoed the bill because he says Democrats reneged on a deal to pass an overhaul of the state’s overall pension system in exchange for the funding for CPS.
Brown says securing the pension aid for Chicago is “an area of continued interest” but he could not provide details on future plans.