Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner (R) has announced a plan to reopen the state museum system, which was shuttered in September 2015 due to a budget impasse with the state legislature. The governor proposes to reopen four of the six museum sites and to start charging admission for the previously free museum.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources claims the changes would save about $1 million per year. In 2015, the governor’s office claimed the closure of all six sites would save $6 million annually.
The Illinois Senate and House had passed legislation last fall to attempt to reopen the museum. Through the use of an amendatory veto, Governor Rauner offers his own recommendations to the legislation. The legislature can either approve the changes or could override the changes with at least 60 percent of votes in each chamber.