July 1, 2009

To the Honorable Members

of the Illinois Senate,

96th General Assembly

Today, I am vetoing SB 1197. 

Since I took the oath of office as Governor on January 29, I have stated consistently that solving Illinois’ fiscal crisis and balancing the budget would require making tough choices.

This bill does not effectively address Illinois’ growing budgetary and economic calamity. This is a budget that funds a full year of services at a 50 percent level. The result is a halfway measure that fails to address the dire consequences of the state’s declining revenues, widening deficit, increased demand for critical human services, and the weak U.S. economy.

Most troubling, this bill fails to fund the basic needs of the people of Illinois.

Apart from my policy objections, this bill runs afoul of our State’s Constitution. 

Article IV, Section 8(d) of the Illinois Constitution provides that appropriations bills must be limited to the subject of appropriations.

This legislation seeks to amend existing statute to ban the expenditure of funds on “professional and artistic services” contracts. 

 Without the services of skilled public servants employed pursuant to a professional or artistic services contract, state government would not function.

 The effect of this provision would be to eliminate essential state workers, including nurses and doctors at state-run health care facilities serving veterans and the elderly; professionals who assist the Department of Corrections in monitoring prisoners; psychologists and psychiatrists serving children in the state’s care; and even hiring professionals to fingerprint and perform background checks on potential foster parents.

Also, the State Finance Act gives the executive branch managerial flexibility by authorizing transfers of dollars among line items. Yet, this legislation purports to effectively repeal that part of the law for agencies receiving funds under SB 1197.

Moreover, Illinois law requires state agencies to carry out duties mandated by law but   this bill does not provide funding required to these pay for these obligations. Since the General Assembly did not remove those mandates, passage of this bill would expose the State of Illinois to scores of lawsuits from social agencies and providers.

Therefore, in accordance with Article IV, Section 9(b) of the Illinois Constitution, I return SB 1197 to the Senate, where it originated, with the foregoing objections, vetoed in its entirety.

I am still hopeful that a balanced budget will be passed by the General Assembly and vow to work toward achieving that important goal for the people of Illinois.

Sincerely,

                                                                                                ____________________

                                                                                                Pat Quinn

                                                                                                GOVERNOR