The sponsor of legislation intended to curb heroin abuse says he'll try to override Governor Bruce Rauner's partial veto.
The governor says Illinois can't afford to include all treatment and anti-overdose medicines in Medicaid, the state's healthcare program for the poor.
But Representative Lou Lang, a Democrat from Skokie, says the costs Rauner cites don't take into account what Illinois will save.
"Where is the discussion about how it's going to save us hundreds of millions of dollars to keep these people out of prison? Where is the talk on the savings, even in the Medicaid line item, when we treat people and keep people out of emergency rooms, which is costing the state of Illinois money? So this amendatory veto is penny-wise and pound foolish."
Lang says he hopes the bipartisan coalition that passed the measure originally will stick together, and reject the governor's changes.
But Republicans have aligned with Rauner on fiscal issues, as the state ends its third month without a budget.
