Illinois legislators are scheduled to finish out their veto session this week. Their back-loaded agenda ranges from dealing with budget matters to social issues.
The first week of the veto session late last month went by with little of substance accomplished.
But what the General Assembly didn't touch then is back now.
Like tax packages designed to keep companies, like Archer Daniels Midland, headquartered in Illinois.
It also appears the sponsor of stalled same-sex marriage legislation is leaning toward calling it for a vote in the House.
And then there's the long-awaited prospect of a pension overhaul.
Rep. Elaine Nekritz, the House Democrats' lead on pensions, says since the first half of the veto session "I think that there has been ... quite a bit of ... progress," she said. "Because the issues keep narrowing. And to my mind, as long as people are at the table and the issues keep narrowing, we're making progress. And on this particular issue that's a good direction."
But with no deal imminent, legislators could go home next week with Illinois' underfunded retirement systems left in the status quo.
And despite a push to toughen penalties for carrying a gun illegally, opposition might stop that, too.
Also on the agenda: a hearing on a possible new tax on paint, potentially altering Illinois' renewable energy requirements and authorizing extra money for state programs running low on funding.
