By Greg Bishop/Illinois Radio Network
SPRINGFIELD – Lawmakers in the Illinois House failed to override the Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto on several measures today, including a measure to automatically register people to vote any time they interact with state government.
The measure fell four votes short of overriding Rauner’s veto. Democrats said those who don’t support the legislation want to disenfranchise voters. State Rep. Tom Demmer, R-Dixon, said that’s not the case at all. Demmer said the measure was a step in the right direction, but wasn’t there yet.
“Look at the positive, proactive solutions that we’ve offered, and let’s take the time that we have now, the time that we have between today and when the next election takes place…to make sure we get it right,” Demmer said.
Republican automatic voter registration measures await hearings.
Meanwhile, the state House also failed to override Rauner on a measure the business community said would have increased the cost of business and the price of taxpayer-funded public works projects.
The measure would have required localities’ prevailing wage rates to reflect collective bargaining wages, if those wages cover a third of the workforce.
State Rep. Mark Batinick, R-Plainfield, said he supports a prevailing wage, but that the bill would have given too much power to union negotiators.
“Simply having the idea that whatever the union rate is, is the prevailing wage is circular logic. So basically, the prevailing wage is whatever is negotiated by the union, which doesn’t seem like the true prevailing wage since it doesn’t account for what’s happening in the private sector,” Batinick said.
Business groups have said the measure would have increased business costs and the price of public works projects, taking money away from other important government services.
The House did override Rauner on a bill that affects Chicago firefighters.
Lawmakers are back in session Wednesday.
