SPRINGFIELD, Ill. _The Illinois Senate voted Tuesday to override Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner's vetoes of an income tax increase and budget, key steps toward ending a three-year impasse.
The quick Senate action capped a whirlwind Independence Day at the Capitol. Rauner vetoed the 32 percent increase in the income tax rate a couple of hours after the Senate voted to send it to him. Rauner also vetoed a budget bill and budget implementation bill.
"The package of legislation fails to address Illinois' fiscal and economic crisis _and in fact, makes it worse in the long run, Rauner said in his veto message. He also noted that he did not get the economic agenda items he had made a requirement to sign a tax increase into law.
The voting came as Illinois entered its third year without a budget, under the threat of a credit downgrade to junk status, potential layoffs of construction workers and with Illinois already booted from the Powerball and Mega Millions lottery games.
The 36-18 vote in the Senate on the tax increase came after a very short debate, and two days after more than a dozen Republicans in the House broke ranks with Rauner to join Democrats to support the plan.
The tax increase and budget now head to the state House, which also would have to vote to override Rauner for them to become law. But Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan said the House would not do so Tuesday, meaning the budget process would play out at least another day.
