Senator Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, issued the following statement regarding Gov. Bruce Rauner’s decision to veto another appropriations bill from the Legislature:

“Gov. Rauner’s stubborn refusal to propose a balanced budget – a duty outlined in the Illinois Constitution – has left Illinois to drift like a ship with no captain.

“In the absence of actual leadership from the governor’s office, the General Assembly for months now has been forced to act unilaterally as we try to propose budget bills that the governor might sign to help residents who have been left to suffer without the state’s assistance. It’s a frustrating exercise.

“Given Gov. Rauner’s baffling choices about what he will sign and what he will veto, it has become exceedingly difficult to predict how he will react to legislation we send him on behalf of the people we represent, including those who rely on human service providers and college tuition assistance.

“At this point, all I can say is that I hope that Gov. Rauner will sign Senate Bill 2038, a clean human services stopgap that was sent to his desk with overwhelming bipartisan support. These service providers have gone nearly a year without payment from the state.

“Unfortunately for the people of Illinois, what our captain will choose to do is anyone’s guess.”