The Latest: Chicago school aid veto stands as House adjourns
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - The Latest on veto of Chicago Public Schools pension aid and Illinois budget negotiations (all times local):
6:30 p.m.
The Illinois House has adjourned for the year without attempting to override a veto from Gov. Bruce Rauner that removed $215 million in pension relief for the financially struggling Chicago Public Schools system.
The Republican governor vetoed the funding Thursday, saying Democrats had backed out of a promise to work on overhauling the state's overall pension system as a condition of getting the money.
Senate Democrats successfully voted to override the governor's veto, but the House needed to agree to overturn the veto and never called the question for a vote. It was unclear whether they had enough support to override the governor.
The district had counted on the money to pay the employer's contribution to teachers' pension. CPS CEO Forrest Claypool has said that without the aid there could be budget cuts.
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3:45 p.m.
The leader of Chicago Public Schools says Gov. Bruce Rauner acted "recklessly" and "impulsively" in vetoing $215 million in pension relief for the nation's third-largest school district.
CPS CEO Forrest Claypool accused Rauner of using students as "pawns" in a "cynical political game."
The Republican governor rejected the state aid Thursday as budget talks with Democrats controlling the Legislature broke down again. The Senate has voted to override the veto. It awaits a House vote.
The district had counted on the money to pay the employer's contribution to teachers' pension. Claypool has said that without the relief, cuts at the classroom level could be expected. He declined to discuss cuts Thursday, saying district officials were prepared to fight the veto.
Rauner vetoed the funding after Democratic Senate President John Cullerton denied Thursday that there was a deal that the CPS money was contingent on a statewide pension overhaul.
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1:30 p.m.
Senate Democrats have overruled Illinois Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner's veto of $215 million aimed at helping with Chicago Public Schools' pension payments.
The House still must vote on the matter to fully override the veto.
Rauner vetoed the state aid Thursday as negotiations with Democrats on a long overdue budget broke down again. The parties had agreed to that funding in June on the condition that lawmakers would work on a separate plan to overhaul a statewide pension system that's more than $100 billion in debt.
The country's third-largest school district has a "junk" status from credit agencies and was counting on the money to pay the employer's contribution to teachers' pensions.
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12:35 p.m.
Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner has vetoed $215 million aimed at helping with Chicago Public Schools' pension payments as negotiations with Democrats on an overdue state budget broke down again.
The parties agreed to that funding in June on the condition that lawmakers would work on a separate plan to overhaul a statewide pension system that's more than $100 billion in debt.
But Rauner vetoed the funding immediately after Democratic Senate President John Cullerton denied Thursday there had been a deal in June.
The country's third-largest school district has a "junk" status from credit agencies and was counting on the money to pay the employer's contribution to teachers' pensions.
Illinois has been without a budget for 18 months amid an ideological standoff between Rauner and majority Democrats.