Rauner vetoes education funding bill over private school concerns
Rauner
Gov. Bruce Rauner  on Monday vetoed a bill that was designed to clear the way for a major overhaul of how the state distributes dollars to public schools  saying issues remain that would prevent about three dozen private schools from participating in a new scholarship program.
 Rauner  used  his  amendatory veto powers to rewrite the measure  which sponsors said was requested by the Illinois State Board of Education so officials could move forward on a new school funding formula that would prioritize poor and needy schools.
While  Rauner  has listed the new funding formula as one of his top achievements as he seeks re-election  the Republican governor said Monday that lawmakers failed to address a technicality that would prevent at least 36 Catholic and independent schools from benefiting from a new scholarship program heâs pushed.
âInclusivity was the spirit of this legislation to begin with  and we simply must ensure that we follow through with the appropriate language to get the job done â  Rauner  said in a statement.
However  supporters of the funding formula rewrite say Raunerâs veto could mean struggling schools left waiting on an influx of state dollars will have to wait even longer as legislators weigh the governorâs changes. Lawmakers can vote to accept the changes  reject them with an override  or choose not to take them up at all  in which case the legislation would die.
âNot a single penny of the new money has been spent on school districts to date â said Sen. Andy Manar  a Democrat from Bunker Hill in central Illinois who sponsored the funding changes. âBecause of this veto  they are going to continue to wait for the very thing  Bruce Rauner  is taking credit for on television â equitable school funding.â
 Rauner  spokeswoman Rachel Bold said  it  was âunfairâ for critics to say the amendatory veto would delay implementation of the new funding formula  saying the board of eduction âcontinues to work on the new funding formulaâ and money is âstill several months from being sent out.â
An education board spokeswoman declined to comment  saying  the agency  is âevaluating the impactâ of the governorâs proposed changes.
 Raunerâs  issue centers on language that would require nonpublic schools to be ârecognizedâ by the board of education to participate in the tax program.  He  says that eligibility should be expanded to schools that are âregisteredâ with the board.
Though  Rauner  eventually embraced the new school funding formula last summer   he  initially vetoed the proposal  saying  it  amounted to a âbailoutâ for Chicago Public Schools. While CPS still got a major cash infusion with  Raunerâs  signature on the funding rewrite  the governor also claimed a win with the tax credit program  which he said would give families more choices in picking schools.
Lt. Gov. Sanguinetti sticks with  Gov. Rauner  despite disagreements Â»
 Rauner  spends night in Quincy veterans home plagued by deadly water problems Â»
 Rauner  lays out how second term will be different  blames Emanuel for first-term failures Â»
[TGT] on Monday vetoed a bill that was designed to clear the way for a major overhaul of how the state distributes dollars to public schools  saying issues remain that would prevent about three dozen private schools from participating in a new scholarship program.
  [TGT] used   [TGT]   amendatory veto powers to rewrite the measure  which sponsors said was requested by the Illinois State Board of Education so officials could move forward on a new school funding formula that would prioritize poor and needy schools.
While   [TGT] has listed the new funding formula as one of his top achievements as he seeks re-election  the Republican governor said Monday that lawmakers failed to address a technicality that would prevent at least 36 Catholic and independent schools from benefiting from a new scholarship program heâs pushed.
âInclusivity was the spirit of this legislation to begin with  and we simply must ensure that we follow through with the appropriate language to get the job done â   [TGT] said in a statement.
However  supporters of the funding formula rewrite say Raunerâs veto could mean struggling schools left waiting on an influx of state dollars will have to wait even longer as legislators weigh the governorâs changes. Lawmakers can vote to accept the changes  reject them with an override  or choose not to take them up at all  in which case the legislation would die.
âNot a single penny of the new money has been spent on school districts to date â said Sen. Andy Manar  a Democrat from Bunker Hill in central Illinois who sponsored the funding changes. âBecause of this veto  they are going to continue to wait for the very thing   [TGT] is taking credit for on television â equitable school funding.â
  [TGT] spokeswoman Rachel Bold said   [TGT]   was âunfairâ for critics to say the amendatory veto would delay implementation of the new funding formula  saying the board of eduction âcontinues to work on the new funding formulaâ and money is âstill several months from being sent out.â
An education board spokeswoman declined to comment  saying  the agency  is âevaluating the impactâ of the governorâs proposed changes.
 Raunerâs  issue centers on language that would require nonpublic schools to be ârecognizedâ by the board of education to participate in the tax program.  He  says that eligibility should be expanded to schools that are âregisteredâ with the board.
Though   [TGT] eventually embraced the new school funding formula last summer    [TGT]   initially vetoed the proposal  saying  it  amounted to a âbailoutâ for Chicago Public Schools. While CPS still got a major cash infusion with  Raunerâs  signature on the funding rewrite   [TGT]  also claimed a win with the tax credit program  which  [TGT]  said would give families more choices in picking schools.
Lt. Gov. Sanguinetti sticks with   [TGT] despite disagreements Â»
 Rauner  spends night in Quincy veterans home plagued by deadly water problems Â»
 Rauner  lays out how second term will be different  blames Emanuel for first-term failures Â»