Murphy pushes back against Rauner’s anti-business school funding veto

• 2017
• School funding
• Property tax
• SB 1

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) issued the following statement on the Senate’s action to override Gov. Bruce Rauner’s amendatory veto of Senate Bill 1, a proposal to improve Illinois’ school funding system:

“Today I voted to override the governor’s veto and reform the school funding system so that all schools in the state are fairly and adequately funded and so that homeowners can enjoy meaningful property tax relief in the future. Illinois’ current system relies too heavily on local property taxes, burdening homeowners across the state.

“Gov. Rauner attempted to insert anti-business provisions into a school funding reform bill when he vetoed it. His changes would have shifted even more of the costs of funding schools onto property tax payers and hurt our communities’ economic development efforts.

“I could not support the governor’s efforts to burden the middle class and homeowners. I proudly voted to fix our school funding system so that schools are adequately funded without overly relying on property taxes.”

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Murphy disappointed by Rauner's school funding reform veto

SPRINGFIELD—State Sen. Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) issued the statement below after Gov. Rauner issued an amendatory veto of Senate Bill 1, a proposal that would change how Illinois schools are funded.

“Illinois has among the highest property taxes in the nation, with a majority of those local tax dollars going to schools. Reforming the school funding formula is the only serious way to provide homeowners with meaningful property tax relief.

“Gov. Rauner’s decision to veto Senate Bill 1, which shifts the burden of paying for schools from local property tax dollars onto the state, is truly disappointing. I continue to stand committed to working toward fixing a school funding system that will give homeowners meaningful property tax relief and provide adequate funding for our schools.”

Legislative pay freeze co-sponsored by Murphy becomes law

• 2017

SPRINGFIELD—Legislation co-sponsored by State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) to freeze legislators’ reimbursement rates and salaries was signed into law today. House Bill 643 passed both chambers with bipartisan support and had been on the governor’s desk since June 29.

“Given the state’s recent financial trouble and the fact that most working adults do not receive a cost of living adjustment, this is commonsense legislation to save taxpayers money,” Murphy said. “I’m glad the governor finally signed this bill into law.”

Without this legislation, per diem rates for legislators would have increased from $111 per day to $142 and mileage reimbursements would have climbed from $0.39 to $0.535 per mile.

General Assembly members have not received a cost of living adjustment since fiscal year 2009.

Murphy votes to override Rauner’s veto

SPRINGFIELD- State Senator Laura Murphy released the statement below after the Illinois Senate voted to override Governor Rauner’s veto of the bipartisan budget proposal that passed the Senate earlier in the day.

“For over two years Governor Rauner’s refusal to participate in budget discussions and his insistence on tying non-budget items to the budget continues to put the very future of our state at risk. Centers that serve seniors and those with disabilities have closed, colleges and universities are on the threshold of losing accreditation and schools may not open this fall.

“Today’s veto threatens to put the state into junk bond status, which will ultimately cost taxpayers millions more in the long run and prevent the stability new businesses need to expand in our state. This is absolutely unacceptable. I stood up for middle-class families who have shouldered the burden of this impasse.  

“I applaud the group of lawmakers, both democrats and many republicans, who have chosen to buck the governor and provide stability for the future of our state so we can finally start to move forward on sorely needed reforms.”

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