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November 24, 2009
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House Votes to Override Most Vetoes
(2007-10-03)
(wqub) - Members of the Illinois House berated Governor Rod Blagojevich for cutting a half-billion dollars from the budget. The House then voted to override the governor. Amanda Vinicky reports on the latest in the ongoing fight over state spending:

Legislators slammed Blagojevich ... saying that the projects he called "pork" are vitally important to Illinois' neediest residents. And they chastised him for being hypocritical. Blagojevich cut money to repair bridges ... while at the same time demanding more state money go to fixing brides after a deadly bridge collapse in Minnesota. Blagojevich also took money out of nursing scholarships after he'd made an issue about the state's nursing shortage. And he slashed funding for AIDS, autism, prenatal, women's health and mental health programs. Blagojevich says he cut the money from the budget so he can instead put it towards healthcare.

Democratic Representative Lou Lang of Skokie says that's an assault on the constitution's balance of power.

(LLor7 : )
"If we fail to override this veto today, if the Senate fails to override this veto in the coming days, we will have ceded to the Governor of the State of Illinois our responsibilities. "

Yet while the House voted overwhelmingly to restore most of the money ... it appears that isn't going to happen.
That's because Senate President Emil Jones affirmed he'll stand by the governor ... and not allow the Senate to vote on overriding the budget vetoes.

I'm Amanda Vinicky.
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