Bill Text: IL HB1797 | 2017-2018 | 100th General Assembly | Veto Message
Bill Title: Amends the Capital Development Board Act. Provides that, for certain contracts entered into between the Capital Development Board and a regional port district concerning an appropriation for cargo handling facilities, if, for a period of 25 years, the regional port district has not been required to remit any amount of the appropriation to the State because the regional port district has failed to achieve the required level of profit, then the regional port district shall not be required to remit any amount of the appropriation under the contract. Provides a preamble. Effective immediately.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 12-3)
Status: (Passed) 2017-11-09 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 100-0546 [HB1797 Detail]
Download: Illinois-2017-HB1797-Veto_Message.html
August 25, 2017
To the Honorable Members of
The Illinois House of Representatives,
100th General Assembly:
Today, I veto HB 1797, which would remit the $15 million debt owed by the Illinois International Port Authority to the State of Illinois. HB 1797 is requesting the State of Illinois absolve the port authority of its debt with no clear plan for future profitability.
Furthermore, the International Port Authority was cited in 2013 by the Illinois Auditor General for numerous findings, indicating reasons for limited profitability through financial and ineffective governance. Additionally, Auditor General Holland cited the port authority for a nonexistent, long-term plan for economic development of water or rail to pay the debt owed to Illinois. This bill does not address the broken aspects driving the port district’s current financial instability, but instead masks the endemic problems with false hopes of increased economic opportunities.
The Illinois taxpayers deserve transformational changes at the International Port Authority before we should consider forgiving this debt. Internationally, new port management models have been created to deliver greater private sector participation and investment in ports. New management models could increase port utilization and create new jobs, while reducing operating costs and eliminating risks to the taxpayers. I look forward to working with the International Port Authority and the City of Chicago to find a solution to benefit the people of Illinois and our economy in the near future.
Therefore, pursuant to Section 9(b) of Article IV of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby return House Bill 1797, entitled “AN ACT concerning State government,” with the foregoing objections, vetoed in its entirety.
Sincerely,
Bruce Rauner
GOVERNOR
