SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — A Senate committee has OK’d a measure that would let an outside arbitrator decide state-employee wages and working conditions if union negotiations reach an impasse.

The Democratic-controlled Executive Committee sent the legislation to the floor on a 10-5 vote Wednesday. It’s identical to a bill Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed.

The state’s largest public employee union is the state council of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. Its contract expired June 30 and negotiations with the Rauner administration over the past year have been unsuccessful.

Republicans argue the legislation would put terms of new contract into the hands of a union-friendly arbitrator. Democrats say they’re trying to avoid a strike or lockout. Rauner has asked state regulators to declare talks at an impasse.