SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Latest on the Illinois General Assembly’s fall session (all times local):
5:50 p.m.
Gov. Bruce Rauner says action to ban local “right-to-work” zones is “a damaging loss for the economic competitiveness of Illinois.”
The Senate voted 42-13 Tuesday to overturn Rauner’s veto. The Republican wants to give local communities authority to establish “right-to-work” policies. That enables an employee to hold a union job with union protections without joining the bargaining unit or paying dues.
Rauner says it’s crucial to cities and counties trying to compete for jobs with states such as Indiana and Wisconsin.
But a federal judge ruled in January that Lincolnshire’s right-to-work zone violated federal law. It reserves authority for such restrictions to state legislatures only.
The legislation moves to the House. It becomes law if an override is approved by a three-fifths majority.
The bill is SB1905.
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3:30 p.m.
The Illinois Senate has voted to override Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of legislation that prohibits local governments from establishing “right to work” zones.
The Senate voted 42-13 Tuesday to override the governor on a subject dear to the Republican’s heart but which labor unions oppose. “Right to work” refers to a policy that allows individual workers to choose not to join a labor union but still have benefits and protections of union membership.
Lincolnshire officials responded to Rauner’s call in 2015 to form its own right to work zone. A federal judge ruled in January that only states have the authority to prohibit required union membership.
The override effort now moves to the House.
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4 a.m.
The Illinois General Assembly faces another showdown with Gov. Bruce Rauner as it returns Tuesday for its fall session.
Democrats who control the Legislature bested the Republican governor in July when they adopted an income-tax increase and the state’s first budget in two years over Rauner’s vetoes.
Now, lawmakers will consider other legislation the governor nixed. It includes prohibiting “right to work” zones which unions oppose; more timely reporting of bills which state agencies incur; and a requirement that insurance companies get state approval for the premiums they charge for workers’ compensation coverage.
The budget mess isn’t over either. Rauner claims the plan Democrats approved is more than $1 billion out of balance. Lawmakers say the governor has made cuts of $370 million they will examine.
