Metro East Sun

Rep. Bob Pritchard (R-Sycamore) says it's time to go back to the chalkboard on state public school funding.

With an override unlikely but a Democratic majority probably unwilling to approve the amended version of Senate Bill 1, Pritchard said on a recent "Chicago Tonight" that legislators need something new.

“This issue has been framed in such a way that I think it would be extremely hard for any Republican to [vote for a veto override],” Pritchard said. “…I think what we really ought to be looking for is a better deal. Go back to where this whole legislation started, and look at not trying to bail out one district, but look at what’s best for all the students in our state and what’s fair to all school districts."

Pritchard, who serves as the Republican spokesperson on the Appropriations-Elementary & Secondary Education Committee, appeared on the show with Rep. Elaine Nekritz (D-Northbrook), who agreed that there are not enough votes to override Gov. Bruce Rauner's amendatory veto of SB1.

“We’re meeting with a group of Republicans and Democrats, Senate and the House, that are trying to work for what we think was the original concept of the evidence based model: trying to look at appropriate funding, trying to look at the right answers for how we can help all districts and help all students have a good-quality education,” Pritchard said. “And that has to remain the focus.”