The state is inching closer and closer to missing its first school aid payments due next week.
It’s no small task to plug in a new payment formula, calculate each district's payment and disperse 855 checks. The Comptroller’s office can’t even start that process until three-fifths of lawmakers agree on an evidence-based funding formula.
Peoria Republican State Rep. Ryan Spain says lawmakers must finish their own homework, Senate Bill 1.
“The action must first begin on the senate side. This was a senate bill. So the senate democrats are looking at when they can reconvene, but I'm ready to go back to Springfield at any time and really ready to work together to figure this out,” Spain said.
The Illinois Senate has a large enough democratic majority, it could achieve the necessary votes to override the Governor’s veto. That’s not the case in the House. It’s unclear whether lawmakers will attempt to override Gov,
Rauner’s veto of Senate Bill 1 or consider his revisions. If both avenues fail, the measure dies and state education funding remains frozen.
The main sticking point holding up the bill is funding for Chicago Public Schools' teacher pensions. Gov. Bruce Rauner has called the Senate's plan (without his revisions) a "bailout" for Chicago.
“Chicago schools should be treated the same as every other school with regard to how we are funding teacher pensions. Because they had been treated differently. Get them in line so they are treated the same,” Republican State Sen. Chuck Weaver said.