Quinn likely will be especially keen for lawmakers to look at two areas in which he and Rauner have diverged — the income tax and the minimum wage. Rauner has asked legislators to not make any major policy changes during the session.

During the campaign, Quinn said he would like to extend the 2011 tax increase (which brought the income tax to 5 percent from 3 percent) before the end of the year, even if he lost. Rauner has said he favors the idea of brining the rate down to 3 percent over the next four years.

The Chicago Tribune says the tax’s fate is uncertain:

Also simmering is whether or when lawmakers will grant Quinn’s wish to make permanent the 2011 income tax increase he signed into law. That idea already has been dismissed by one Democratic leader even though some rank-and-file members say the state can’t afford the $4 billion-a-year hole that would result if tax rates drop as scheduled Jan. 1.

The decision for lawmakers on whether or not they want to vote to extend the increase would be about more than if they want to see the tax go up or not–there is also the question of how easy Democratic legislators would want to make it for Rauner to deal with the budget come January. Plus, lawmakers would need a three-fifths majority vote to pass a law before the end of the year.

Democratic legislative leaders House Speaker Rep. Michael Madigan and Senate President Sen. John Cullerton would like to hear ideas from the new governor on how to deal with the budget, the Tribune reports. Cullerton said an income tax increase vote would not be called in the Senate before the end of the year.

From the Tribune:

“I think there’s a general agreement among the three of us that in light of the expiration of the tax increase in January, the biggest problem facing the state right now is the budget, and the budget deficit,” Madigan said last week. “And Gov. Rauner understands that, and he’s working with his people to try and get a better understanding of precisely where the finances are on this current budget.”

Rauner could also choose to push for the idea of extending the tax increase after he is sworn in.

From the Tribune:

But if Rauner wants to maintain all or part of the income tax increase, even temporarily, it will require the votes of some Republican lawmakers to help share the blame. That requirement would put the GOP’s legislative minority in an unaccustomed position.

Also on the table for possible action is raising the state’s minimum wage. Quinn has said he favors an increase and after some uncertainty, Rauner said agrees, if the raise comes with some business reforms. Voters agreed to raising the minimum wage on a non-binding ballot measure. Democratic lawmakers may be more willing to work with Quinn to get it done before he leaves office.

From the Tribune:

Rauner has said he supports an increase in the rate, but only if tied to business-friendly legislation, including an overhaul of the state’s workers’ compensation rules and changes in civil lawsuit damage awards — two issues unlikely to be approved by a Democratic legislature.

Quinn contends the rate should be increased “without conditions” and warned that he’s not willing to give up on the issue without a fight.

Even though the Tribune says Madigan called Rauner’s request to hold off on legislative action  “reasonable,” he’s not sure yet what will happen.

Madigan and Cullerton said it was too early to say if lawmakers would vote on whether to increase the state’s minimum hourly wage rate from the current $8.25 to at least $10, saying they must survey their members when they return to the Capitol.

Some legislators think it might be easier to pass the minimum wage before Quinn leaves than to wait until Rauner comes in.

From the Tribune:

State Sen. Kwame Raoul, a Chicago Democrat, questioned the wisdom of Rauner potentially making the minimum-wage increase his first major battle against the Democratic-led General Assembly. Raoul, who has spoken to Rauner, said he wasn’t sure the incoming Republican governor was “fully aware” of the anticipated Democratic opposition to his pro-business demands.

School funding will also be examined during the veto session. The Associated Press reports that Rauner and other Republicans are wary of the proposed bill, which would “direct more state money to poorer rural districts at the expense of wealthier suburban ones.”

From the AP:

The legislation, which is sponsored by Democratic state Sen. Andy Manar, aims to shrink the disparity between per-pupil spending in districts with rich and poor property tax bases by requiring schools to demonstrate need before receiving almost all state funding. This would reduce the amount of state aid that goes to wealthier districts, which mainly rely on local property tax revenue to fund their schools.

Supporters, mostly Democrats, are in favor of bill’s ability to offer more money to poorer districts without having to raise property taxes in those communities, while opponents, mostly Republicans, say it wouldn’t be fair for districts that pay high property taxes to not be able to see that money in their own schools.

From the AP:

[Democratic Rep. Will] Davis said he hopes the proposal could come up for a vote as early as the General Assembly’s last session in early January before the inauguration of Rauner, who would likely veto it.

Other issues on the table, says the Tribune: Ride sharing and speed limits.

There could be a lot of strategy involved in figuring out what gets passed when.

From the Tribune:

Much of the potential for action comes down to timing. While lawmakers are scheduled to meet for two days starting Wednesday, and again for a few days in early December to consider Quinn’s vetoes of legislation ranging from ride sharing to medical billing, most of the heavy lifting will likely be reserved for January.

That’s when the threshold to pass legislation that takes immediate effect drops from a three-fifths majority to a simple majority, giving lawmakers two weeks to act before a new crop of lawmakers is sworn in Jan. 14. Rauner will be inaugurated two days earlier, on Jan. 12.

House Minority Leader Rep. Jim Durkin, Sen. Don Harmon and Chicago Sun-Times columnist Neil Steinberg met with the Sun-Times‘ Natasha Korecki to discuss the veto session and the impending relationship between Rauner and Democratic legislators in this “Off Message” video:

Durkin said he felt that legislators and the new governor would put their campaign animosity behind them and work together to “start the work of the people.”

“They are all professionals. They’ve been through this before,” Harmon said.

 

NEXT ARTICLE: Miller: Road to success for Bruce Rauner goes through Mike Madigan

 

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