Status of Bills SB0001 & SB0035

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Status of Bills (SB0001 & SB0035)

Two bills crafted by Illinois politicians to place the pain of earlier misappropriations of public funds and fiscal irresponsibilities on the public servants of Illinois are moving quickly through the General Assembly this evening.  While both will face questions of a legal nature, we can all be assured that the General Assembly has no plans to look for revenue answers after half a decade of pilfering from public sector workers.  Augmenting that sad fact, the General Assembly has little if any respect for the very promises made in the 1970 Illinois Constitution -  that pensions are an enforceable contract that shall not be diminished or impaired.

Below you will find a political timeline of some importance as you prepare to make your phone calls, contact your neighbors, talk to your colleagues, and deal with your outrage. 

My major is subtraction...

SB 0035 is the pension “killer pill” that many of us have fought in its various mutations from SB 512 some two years ago.  It is the bill supported by the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago, Lawrence Msall, and John Tillman;  and it eviscerates the benefits of both active and retired public sector workers.  Basically, it calls for the end of pensions.  Its writers (besides Ty Fahner) include Sen. Daniel Biss, and Senators Van Pelt, Cunningham, and Steans.  Remember that in the House, Representative Elaine Nekritz promotes a similar bill.

SB0001 is the “choice” part of the tandem bill, one that provides for a coercion in the selection of the lesser pain/impairment of the contractual arrangement made by many, many actives and retirees - health care your family or staying in the middle class when you retire.  You can find the latest movement and description of these bills here:

http://ilga.gov/legislation/grplist.asp?num1=1&num2=100&DocTypeID=SB&GA=98&SessionId=85

And this guy lives in a public union neighborhood???

Important:  Note that these bills are headed to the floor tomorrow for second and third readings.  SB 0001 and SB 0035 are maturing like unbridled cancers.  Please read the outline below and call your legislator.

How a Bill Becomes Law

A Bill is drafted.

The Bill is introduced: it is read on three separate occasions to the legislative body and assigned a Bill number.

The Bill is referred to House and Senate Committee: the Rules Committee (three members from the majority and two from the minority refer the Bill to the appropriate committee for review).

There is a Committee Hearing where the Bill's sponsors explain the legislation to committee members. Lobbyists and concerned groups (the public) can declare support or opposition. If a majority of the committee votes in favor of the Bill, it is then considered before the entire chamber.

There is a Second Reading before the full legislative body; amendments are proposed at this step.

There is a Third Reading before the Chamber: the sponsor explains the Bill before the full chamber where questions can be asked. The Chamber votes on the Bill: (a majority is needed – 60 votes in the House and 30 in the Senate for the Bill – for the Bill to pass). If approved, the Bill moves to the other Chamber, and the Third Reading process is repeated.

If the Second Chamber approves the Bill, it is sent directly to the Governor. If the Bill is amended in the Second Chamber and then passed, it returns to the Chamber in which it originated so the members can agree with the changes. (In other words, if the Bill was amended in the Senate, it must return to the House for concurrence; if the Bill passes without being changed, the Bill is then sent to the Governor).

The Governor may sign the Bill into law, veto it (with recommendations for changes), or veto it (absolutely).

The New Bill becomes law if the Governor signs it. If the Bill is vetoed, it can still become law if both Chambers of the General Assembly vote by 2/3 majorities to override the Governor's veto.