SPRINGFIELD (May 25, 2016) – This afternoon, the Illinois House of Representatives attempted, but failed, to override the governor’s veto of House Bill 580. Illinois Policy Institute CEO John Tillman released the following statement in response to the vote: 

“Today marks another tremendous victory for taxpayers in Illinois. 

“Twice now, government unions and the politicians they bankroll into office have attempted to remove taxpayers’ voice from contract talks with AFSCME, the state’s largest employee union. Last summer lawmakers pushed Senate Bill 1229, which would have taken Gov. Bruce Rauner out of labor negotiations over the next state contract and instead placed that decision into the hands of a panel of unelected arbitrators. After the legislature failed to override the governor’s veto of SB 1229 – preventing it from becoming law – politicians and government unions tried to revive the measure by proposing HB 580.  

“Despite the immense pressure placed on lawmakers by House Speaker Mike Madigan, his legislative allies and government unions, taxpayers prevailed – again. 

“There are a lot of people who have written off Illinois. They say the state is too corrupt and too economically depressed to turn around. Today’s victory is evidence that a transformation is underway in Illinois. Taxpayers are rising up and making their voices heard  –  and they’re saying they’re tired of the same old deals. Today’s battle is one of many Illinoisans will face as we fight to take back our state, but this victory proves Illinois is moving in the right direction.”

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