Illinois Lawmakers Override Governor, Pass Budget For 1st Time In 2 Years

The crucial override vote was delayed after authorities received a report of possible hazardous materials, prompting an investigation, The Associated Press reports. “A woman allegedly threw a powdery substance in Rauner’s office,” the wire service writes, citing the Springfield fire chief.

Rauner was not present and no injuries were reported, but the early afternoon vote was put off as emergency workers investigated the material. The building was reopened by 3:30 p.m.

The budget negotiated by the Democrat-controlled Legislature is the first one passed in Illinois since 2015. Rauner, a Republican, had been firmly opposed to the deal and particularly critical of the income tax hike it included. He vetoed the package of bills on Tuesday.

But enough Republican legislators supported the deal that Democrats were confident they could pass an override. The vote was 71-42.

The state’s long budget crisis began when Rauner took office and vowed, among other things, to take on the state’s influential public-sector unions. The AP reports that the governor wanted a budget that would freeze property taxes, change workers’ compensation programs and cut the cost of state employee pensions. He was also opposed to any permanent tax increase.

But the Democrats who control the Legislature didn’t advance his proposals. The governor didn’t blink, and two years passed without a budget.

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