Experts available to weigh in on Senate Bill 1

July 26, 2017

Students used as pawns as school funding bill stays in General Assembly

SPRINGFIELD, IL (July 26, 2017) – Illinois lawmakers will return to Springfield today for a special session called by Gov. Bruce Rauner. The goal of the session is to address a school funding bill, Senate Bill 1, which provides a Chicago Public Schools bailout, including $215 million annually to cover pension costs.

The Illinois General Assembly passed a budget earlier this month that made school appropriations dependent on the passage of SB 1. Education was the only appropriation withheld from the budget. It is unusual to link education funding to an additional, controversial bill.

Rauner has said he will issue an amendatory veto when he receives the bill. However, before he can do this, the General Assembly needs to send him the bill. The General Assembly passed SB 1 on May 31.

For weeks, lawmakers have delayed the legislative process, inching closer and closer to the start of the school year. The stakes are high: School districts that rely heavily on the state won’t be able to open in the fall without state funding.

It’s time lawmakers stop using children as pawns.

Illinois Policy Institute experts are available in Chicago and Springfield to discuss how the debate over education funding has become about power and politics rather than ensuring students receive a high-quality education.

WHEN: Special session is scheduled to begin at noon today

EXPERTS:

Chicago
Matt Paprocki, senior vice president
Ted Dabrowski, vice president of policy

Springfield
Mindy Ruckman, government affairs legislative analyst

BACKGROUND:

  • SB 1 contains a Chicago Public Schools bailout, which provides an additional $215 million in state tax dollars per year toward Chicago teacher retirement costs, on top of $200 million in special block grant funding.
  • The new funding formula within SB 1 would also allow CPS to hide the annual cost of its unfunded pension liabilities when applying for state aid. This makes CPS look poorer and therefore eligible for additional state aid.
  • This bill would be unfair to taxpayers – who are facing a recently passed 32 percent income tax hike – by forcing them to pay for years of CPS officials’ financial mismanagement.
  • If lawmakers cannot address SB 1 before the start of the school year, school districts that rely heavily on the state may not be able to open.
  • On Dec. 1, 2016, Rauner vetoed a $215 million CPS pension bailout bill because it was contingent upon pension reform that never materialized. The General Assembly did not vote to override this veto.
  • If Gov. Bruce Rauner issues an amendatory veto, the General Assembly will have three options:
    • Override the veto and make their original bill stand. They would need three-fifths majority votes in the House and Senate for this to happen.
    • Do nothing or fail to override the veto. If this occurs, SB 1 will become void and lawmakers would either have to revert to the existing education funding plan or adopt an alternative funding plan.
    • Agree with the amendatory veto. To do that, they need a simple majority vote.

For bookings or interviews, contact: Melanie Krakauer, media@illinoispolicy.org or (312) 607-4977