Rauner warns we should worry during lame duck session

Posted on December 17, 2018
Bruce Rauner
Governor Bruce Rauner says, from what he hears, a major construction bill might be on the way (Photo courtesy Facebook/Bruce Rauner)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD– So, Gov. Bruce Rauner, what chances are there that a big infrastructure bill is coming in 2019 – the first one in a decade?

“I’m hearing the same rumors you are,” Rauner told reporters with his trademark chuckle. “I’ve been recommending an infrastructure bill – a big one – for four years.”

 

Rauner says it can be done without a tax increase. “We could expand sports gambling, we could expand gaming, we could expand public-private partnerships,” he said. “I don’t know whether it would pass in the lame-duck” session Jan. 7 and 8.

 

“Lame-duck sessions tend to get used for controversial votes or unpopular issues like tax hikes,” he added. “I think we should all be a little worried about what might happen in the lame-duck session. We should just have to watch and see.”

 

The members of the 101st General Assembly are sworn in Jan. 9. The new governor, JB Pritzker, and other statewide officers are sworn in Jan. 14.

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