August 25,
2009
To the
Honorable Members of the Illinois House of Representatives,
96th
General Assembly:
With this
message, I return House Bill 237 to the House of Representatives with specific
recommendations for change. I regard this bill as noble in intent. However,
parts of it are unworkable in practice. The State’s fiscal challenges are such
that raising the interest rate on bills the state is delinquent in paying will
simply exacerbate an already serious problem. Though I am sympathetic to the
hardship those to whom the state is delinquent in paying face, promising them
additional dollars the State does not have is not a solution.
One portion of this
bill defines a specific category of provider bills as falling under the
provisions of the State’s Prompt Payment Act. Today’s action leaves that
provision of the bill undisturbed. Inasmuch as most provider bills are already
covered under the Prompt Payment Act, treating community-based providers
offering prevention, intervention, and treatment for those with developmental
disabilities, psychological challenges, and substance abuse issues in the same
manner is equitable and fair.
Therefore,
pursuant to Article IV, Section 9(e) of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I
hereby return House Bill 237, entitled “AN ACT concerning finance”, with the
following specific recommendations for change:
on page 1, line 5, by replacing “Sections 1 and 3-2” with
“Section 1”; and
by deleting line 21 on page 2 through line 2 on page 5.
With these
changes, House Bill 237 will have my approval. I respectfully request your
concurrence.
Sincerely,
PAT QUINN
Governor