Springfield, IL – With the
Fall Veto Session quickly approaching, State Senator Dan Rutherford (R-Pontiac)
has stated that he intends to support a legislative override of an amendatory
veto that would allow Governor Blagojevich to siphon additional revenue from
Illinois’ Teacher Health Insurance Security Fund to finance general state
operating expenses.
Senator Rutherford
explained that the bill initially approved by the General Assembly would have
added the Teachers Health Insurance Security Fund to the list of funds that the
Governor is prohibited from authorizing money to be withdrawn from. In response
to a $4.5 million dip into the fund that the Governor authorized in 2004, last
spring the General Assembly voted unanimously in favor of the original bill in
an attempt to protect the fund from future sweeps.
Rutherford said that the Governor’s amendatory veto of House Bill
3272 not only removes the fund from the list of protected funds, the bill allows
Governor Blagojevich to withdraw additional revenues from any state fund not
currently protected by law.
“The Legislature
overwhelmingly approved this legislation in order to protect this fund from
future sweeps. However, the Governor’s amendatory veto of House Bill 3272 not
only eliminates the original intent of this bill, it authorizes him to siphon
money from all Illinois funds not protected by law,” said Rutherford. “This
significantly alters the fundamental purpose of the legislation and, in effect,
is legislating via amendatory veto. I intend to vote against his recommendations
and I urge my legislative colleagues to do the
same.”
Jim Bachman, Executive
Director of the Illinois Retired Teachers Association (IRTA), says that
overriding the amendatory veto is crucial. According to Bachman, the Governor’s
Office has informed the IRTA of plans to sweep an additional $1.3 million out of
the Teachers Health Insurance Security Fund if the Legislature does not override
the Governor’s proposed changes. Rutherford explained that the program is already facing
significant financial difficulties and cannot afford to have additional revenues
funneled out of the system.
“Funding from the Teachers’
Retirement Insurance Program is deposited into the Teachers Health Insurance
Security Fund. It is crucial that the fund remains fully financed in order to
safeguard the health coverage of Illinois’ retired teachers,” said Rutherford. “If it is the Governor’s intention to funnel an
additional $1.3 million out of the fund, it has become even more important for
the General Assembly uphold the original bill and override Governor
Blagojevich’s amendments.”