By Illinois Radio Network
SPRINGFIELD – Some Illinois lawmakers said they didn’t get all they wanted to get done before leaving the capitol last week.
The General Assembly wrapped up the fall veto session on Thursday. Lawmakers won’t be back in Springfield until late January.
House Majority Leader Greg Harris, D-Chicago, said lawmakers accomplished a lot this year. The legislature passed 637 bills this year, including measures to legalize recreational cannabis for adults, a $45 billion capital infrastructure plan funded with tax increases and expanded gambling, a state minimum wage hike and changes to ethics rules.
“We got a lot done,” Harris said. “I’m sure there are other things to do, but right now I think the strongest thing for us now is implementation to make sure that all these big things roll out smoothly.”
During the fall veto session, lawmakers passed measures to make changes to the state’s adult-use cannabis law and tax code, among other things.
But some lawmakers highlighted legislation that didn’t get passed.
State Rep. Ryan Spain, R-Peoria, said he was disappointed lawmakers left for the year without shifting the tax increase on vehicle trade-ins to private vehicle transfers before the new trade-in tax takes effect on Jan. 1.
“I think it’s unfortunate that the legislature did not take action on this issue. I think there’s a lot of support in making this change, making this fix so that we’re not imposing a tax upon a tax, which is completely unfair.”
The $40 million tax increase on capping the trade-in allowance was part of the legislation passed to help pay for part of the $45 billion statewide infrastructure plan enacted this summer.
A measure that was cued up for committee passage during the veto session would have gradually phased out the use of the medical equipment sterilization chemical ethylene oxide. Some lawmakers want the use of the cancer-causing chemical banned in Illinois. Supporters have said the emissions from such use causes cancer. Opponents of the ban said restricting the use of the chemical could lead to medical equipment shortages.
State Sen. Melinda Bush, D-Grayslake, said she was disappointed the measure stalled.
“There’s more work to be done,” Bush said. “That’s ongoing and I’m going to continue to dig deeper into that to make sure that we have adequate information for our legislators to make good decisions.”
State Sen. Dale Righter, R-Mattoon, said lawmakers dropped the ball on addressing the high cost of workers’ compensation in Illinois. He said his border district regularly loses businesses to Indiana “largely because of workers compensation policies that emanate from here in Springfield.”
“Everyone says they’re pro job,” Righter said. “That’s a way to make our economy stronger that won’t cost taxpayers a dime.”
Lawmakers are scheduled to return to Springfield on Jan. 28, the day before the governor’s State of the State Address.
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