By John Dempsey, WLS-AM News
(CHICAGO) Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner is calling on Democrats who control the General Assembly to negotiate with him over a new school funding formula. Rauner has already issued an amendatory veto of a school funding bill that he says is a bailout for Chicago Public Schools.
This past Sunday the Illinois Senate voted to override Rauner’s veto, and the House is back in session on Wednesday.
This morning Rauner told “The Big John and Ramblin’ Ray Show” on WLS that he urges Republicans in the House not to join with Democrats to override the veto.
“What I hope the members of the General Assembly do is negotiate either an agreement to support the changes to the school funding bill that I recommended, or if they don’t want to do that that they quickly come to a compromise that is fair for all students, treating all students equitably so we can get this done and get our schools open on time with more money.”
If the override fails the lawmakers will have to go back to the drawing board on a new school funding plan to make sure schools across the state open on time this fall. If it comes to that there has been speculation that a compromise proposal could include scholarship tax credits for private schools.
Rauner told WLS he supports that idea.
“I’ve said I am open on any issue. I am open to considering any idea. I’ve been an advocate for school choice my whole life and certainly tuition tax credits is something I’ve supported and recommended for years and the Democrats so far have resisted. Any idea that can move us forward to improve the quality of schools, create more choice, but mostly properly fund our schools so they’re equitable. Everybody’s treated the same and that’s what my amendatory veto does.”
@ 2017 WLS-AM News
