Andrade Issues Statement On Governor’s Veto Of Senate Bill 1

CHICAGO – In response to Governor Rauner’s veto of education funding reform, Senate Bill 1, state Rep. Jaime Andrade, D-Chicago, released the following statement:

“I am extremely disappointed with the governor’s decision to veto this proposal that would have increased funding and improved educational opportunity for every child in Illinois. Governor Rauner is more inclined to engage in partisan politics and put schools at risk of not opening than supporting a bipartisan reform package that contains 90 percent of his demands.

“The governor has turned the debate on Senate Bill 1 into a political tool, pitting one region of the state against another. He has declared the bill a “Chicago bailout”, a claim which has been debunked as false by the non-partisan, fact-checking group Politifact.

“The governor’s knee-jerk veto jeopardizes the education of every student in the state. Furthermore, Governor Rauner did not seem to realize the consequences of his veto. He claimed falsely, once again, that a simply majority would be required to adopt his veto when in reality a supermajority would be required.

“As the governor continues to fail to lead and even grasp the basics of the legislative process, I will continue to negotiate with my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to reach a compromise that will give schools the resources they need to open on time.”