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Democratic state Rep. Frank Mautino was approved Tuesday to become the state’s third auditor general.

Mautino, 53, of Spring Valley, will take over for Auditor General William Holland who plans to retire at the end of the year.

At a time of deep partisan divides in the legislature over the budget impasse, Mautino won support from lawmakers in both parties. The Senate approved his nomination by a 55-0 vote. The House followed shortly after voting 102-10.

All of the opposition came from House Republicans.

And the HGOPs who voted against Mautino are the most conservative, and often some of the most partisan in the chamber…

Andersson, Batinick, Frese, Ives, Jesiel, McDermed, Morrison, Phillips, Wehrli, Keith Wheeler,

They’re also all fairly new to the Statehouse.

* Related…

* Dan and Amy interview State Representative Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) on AM 560

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 9:14 am

Comments

Congratulations to Frank. He will be sorely missed in the House as he was someone who could work with everyone to get things accomplished.

Comment by nobody Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 9:28 am
Rep. Wehrli was also one of the no votes.

Comment by Gator Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 9:32 am
I’d rather re-watch the last three Cubs/Mets games in one sitting then subject myself to five minutes of Dan, Amy and Jeanne.

That sort of thing should probably be banned by the Geneva Convention.

Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 9:40 am
At least they all had the good sense not to speak.

Comment by LizPhairTax Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 9:41 am
==At least they all had the good sense not to speak.==

A good sense that Rep. Ives often lacks during floor debate.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 9:51 am
Steve Andersson’s vote was disappointing because he doesn’t seem as crazy as the rest.

Comment by 4 percent Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 9:54 am
I’m embarrassed for each of them for that vote…in part because they do not have the sense to be embarrassed for themselves.

Comment by GOP Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 9:58 am
Word, you perfectly captured my thoughts.

Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 10:02 am
If Ives is “productively outspoken,” I will eat my hat.

Comment by Dome Gnome Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 10:03 am
+++A good sense that Rep. Ives often lacks during floor debate.+++

I listened to the Ives interview and she made a lot of sense. Also agree with no vote against Mautino. He seems like a decent man and will do a decent job as auditor. But he’s an insider and we need an independent professional auditor in that job.

Comment by justacitizen Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 10:05 am
Whenever you have Ives and Morrison on one side, that’s tge side of irrational thought.

“If I offended”, “those confederates…”

However, they do make a heck of a wacky phrase jumble.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 10:07 am
@justacitizen

I invested the time as well so that I could respond knowledgeably, even though I hear plenty of Jeanne Ives in committee and on the floor. I’ll spare you the greatest hits, but let you know that a lot of her b-sides are cray-cray too.

I tried. I really did. All 8:19 of it.

I just hear someone who is willfully ignorant and buoyed by people like Proft painting her as “productively outspoken” when she’s only one of those things.

Comment by LizPhairTax Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 10:19 am
Just throwing it out there, but there are segments of both bases that hate the concept of “go along to get along”.

Comment by Team Sleep Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 10:34 am
I don’t believe that the Auditor General should come from any part of the body of which he would be auditing. I would have voted no on any sitting or former member of either party. Audits should be conducted and managed by third-party outsiders. Nothing at all against Frank. I explained it to him when I congratulated him on the House floor.

Comment by Rep Keith Wheeler Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 10:48 am
Did not realize Wherli was that loopey. Too bad.
Anyone else notice that Jesiel vote “yes” in the Audit Commission and “no” on the floor?
Maybe this is some Oberweiss Secret Cult and they all get free, giant malts as a reward.

Comment by Anonin' Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 10:50 am
Wow! I could not listen to all of the tape, but she reminds me of those new conservative Republicans that are such true believers. Save me from true believers. They are the folks that think it is worthwhile to destroy the state to get their way.

Trying to cool down again.

Comment by Niblets Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 10:56 am
Unfortunately haters are going to hate

Comment by Joe Blow Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 10:57 am
Jeanne Ives is doing everything to protect her suburban, rich, upper class district that wants to prosper while the rest of Illinois (Chicago, Southern Illinois, Central Illinois, anywhere outside of the suburbs for that matter.)

Want to look at Jeanne Ives future vision of what she wants Chicago and Illinois to look like? Look at Missouri and look at St. Louis, a city and state that is inflicted with racism and a burning shell of a “city”. That’s her vision for Illinois, for downstate, and for Chicago.

Comment by Southern Illinois Hoopdee Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 11:03 am
==I just hear someone who is willfully ignorant and buoyed by people like Proft painting her as “productively outspoken” when she’s only one of those things.==

Don’t know much about Ives. Just sayin’ that I agreed with her ‘no’ vote on the AG and never thought much of or agreed with Jim Edgar

Comment by justacitizen Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 11:04 am
===Don’t know much about Ives. Just sayin’ that I agreed with her ‘no’ vote on the AG and never thought much of or agreed with Jim Edgar===

Welp,

If you’re lining up with Jeanne Ives over Jim Edgar, that pretty much explains everything, lol

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 11:05 am
I meant to say that she wanted the rest of Illinois to burn, but I didn’t put that part in. Oops!

Furthermore, she can’t be bothered to differentiate between the various types of tax increases there are. She would fight a progressive income tax to the end. No question. Not what her constituents want! It would shift too much of the tax burden to her district! Yet, she can’t come out and say that. So, a tax increase is a tax increase while IL has one of the most regressive tax systems in America, a tax system that shares far more in common with the Red States that she idolizes.

Again, not a surprise when we’re dealing with a very conservative rep who’s probably very miseducated when it comes to economics.

Comment by Southern Illinois Hoopdee Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 11:11 am
All of them would rather be “right” than get anything accomplished. Ives never gets any legislation enacted — she just throws bombs.

Shocked that David Reis was not among them. He’s usually reliable for that bunch.

Comment by Blago's Luxurious Grey Mane Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 11:11 am
==Don’t know much about Ives. Just sayin’ that I agreed with her ‘no’ vote on the AG and never thought much of or agreed with Jim Edgar==

Justacitizen, out of curiosity, where are you located?

Comment by Southern Illinois Hoopdee Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 11:12 am
Our party has been busy in Congress proving that we are incapable of governing at the national level. I sure hope that inability doesn’t seep down to the state level here in Illinois. Sooner or later we’re going to have a budget, and that budget is going to require revenue enhancements. If we end up with our own version of the Freedom Caucus, opposed to that which is doable and in favor of that which is not, Governor Rauner will be seriously handicapped in his ability to negotiate the best budget possible.

Comment by steve schnorf Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 11:22 am
They aren’t a “Freedom Caucus” because they voted against a nominee from the opposing party. There is a line of thinking behind this vote that is completely lacking within the real “Freedom Caucus”, spending days immolating their own Republicans.

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 11:40 am
So voting against a guy who’s been in the chamber for decades, inherited the seat from his father, has a brother “hidden” in state government and has been a Madigan Lieutenant for years is a bad thing? Got it.

All but two that voted no are freshman legislators and have no/very little history with Frank. I’m sure Frank will do just fine but good on them for not blindly following. They stepped out against just “do as you’re told”. Good for them. Isn’t that what we are wanting from them on the budget stalemate?

Comment by Anon2U Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 11:51 am
haters hate

Comment by steve schnorf Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 11:56 am
Why am I not surprised that Anon2U would come out in defense of the “goofball 10″

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 12:00 pm
=== Our party has been busy in Congress proving that we are incapable of governing at the national level. I sure hope that inability doesn’t seep down to the state level here in Illinois. ===

Steve, where do you seeing governing happening here for the State of Illinois?

Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 12:01 pm
Why am I not suprized Demoralized would come out in support of the status quo and in favor of the same shallow thinking that Springfield is known for?

Comment by Anon2U Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 12:04 pm
Jeanne is an independent voice in Springfield and she will not be controlled by the establishment network of Demicans or Republicrats. She was elected to represent her district, and not the caucus. Hope Rauner is grooming her for a spot in his administration.

Comment by Wheaton 411 Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 12:17 pm
justacitizen & Anon2U

The AG needs to be someone who knows State Gov’t inside and out, understands how the legislature works and is trusted by the legislators, and can perform both financial and compliance audits. A very tall order for anyone. Picking Mautino was not “going with the status quo.” It was picking the person who can best do all aspects of the job on day one. The bi-partisan support says a lot about how the legislators feel about Mautino and his ability to provide them with unbiased, accurate information in a format that will be useful. It is also telling that 7 of the ten have only been in the House since January and that Mautino was not as active this Spring as he normally would be. The trust level of people familiar with State government is very high and very broad for Mautino. If there were doubts, he would not have been appointed.

The votes of the rookies indicate that they did not take the time to research the job and Mautino. Ives’ vote says more about her than anyone else.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 12:28 pm
===Jeanne is an independent voice in Springfield===

Yeah she is, and for that I’m thankful. The confederate veterans, they may disagree with me, but I can live with that I guess…

===and she will not be controlled by the establishment network of Demicans or Republicrats.===

If you’re going to slam both parties while raising Ives up, please, save the typing, just use “the combine” so we all know your comment hits all the Kass parroted talking points.

===She was elected to represent her district, and not the caucus.===

Ives also took an oath to the state of Illinois. Your “caucus” comment is hysterical, what, are you recognizing that members of her own caucus find her… difficult?

===Hope Rauner is grooming her for a spot in his administration.===

For what? To run a non-funded agency that can’t fulfill its mission?

Keep Ives in the House, if only as an example to Freshman how they don’t want to be seen by colleagues on both sides of the aisle.

For me, she’s comedy gold, but I’m selfish like that sometimes!

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 12:48 pm
I’m also concerned about this appointment for two reasons:
1. I think that a requirement should be a CPA or CIA professional certification.
2. Auditor Mautino was a member of this committee in’06:
http://cgfa.ilga.gov/Upload/0806Financial_Condition_%20PublicEmpl_Retire.pdf

Comment by Jockey Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 12:55 pm
After Bill retires he’ll have more time to get DUIs

Comment by Confirmation Delay Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 1:00 pm
@Anonu2 Following your logic, then why did they vote against Frank? What was their opposition to his confirmation -especially since the freshman had little interaction with him? Was it his qualifications or party or he would be considered too much a insider as you suggest? Would they have gotten calls in district complaining about if they voted for him? Not likely… Maybe a national search should have been conducted to find another superstar.

Comment by One to the Dome Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 1:05 pm
@Anonu2 Following your logic, then why did they vote against Frank? What was their opposition to his confirmation -especially since the freshman had little interaction with him? Was it his qualifications or party or he would be considered too much a insider as you suggest? Would they have gotten calls in district complaining about if they voted for him? Not likely… Maybe a national search should have been conducted to find another superstar.

Comment by One to the Dome Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 1:05 pm
==come out in support of the status quo==

Didn’t do that and I’ve never done that, though I’ll take the “status quo lover” label anytime if that’s what you want to label me for opposing the likes of Jeanne Ives and these other goofballs.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 1:21 pm
By the way Anon2U, contrary to your twisted logic being against some of the things going on does not equate to being for the status quo. Now go away.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 1:22 pm
My logic is this: find someone from outside the “system.” Will Frank root out problems when audits find them or will he be another layer of insulation around Madigan and the “system?” I hope for the best in Frank but with where our state is and its history of nefarious activities I’m a bit sceptical. I also think any legislator stepping out and doing what they think is best for the state regardless is a good thing. We all want an end to partisan gridlock and this is an example of that. You may not like their votes in this case but would you rather they just did whatever leadership told them to do? You want republicans to show independence from Rauner but do as their told when it comes to your guy? Doesn’t jive.

Like I said, I wish Frank the best. Just not convinced that there isn’t a more independently qualified person out there.

Comment by Anon2U Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 1:23 pm
Demoralized,
I thought Rich owned this blog? I get it, you attack me for providing a differing viewpoint because you don’t like my viewpoint. In debate that means you lost!

Comment by Anon2U Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 1:25 pm
Anon2U

Holland was from the Democratic staff. I think he was pretty independent. That nonsense you just spouted about protecting Madigan is asinine. It’s another “Madigan controls the world” ignorant argument.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 1:25 pm
Anon2U

This isn’t high school. Grow up.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 1:26 pm
Jockey
Could go on and on about watching Frank in action on the LAC, but how about this for his “qualification” ??? He was the only member of the House to vote against HB 2671 / PA 92-0566, George Ryan’s 2002 Early Retirement Incentive (aka “the knucklehead relief act”).

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/votehistory/hrollcalls92/920HB2671_06012002_002000C.html

Comment by Anyone Remember Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 1:27 pm
Challenge my viewpoint but telling me to go away is pouting.
Free your mind to differing viewpoints without attacking the person with those viewpoints, it’s something Ives could stand to learn too.

Comment by Anon2U Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 1:32 pm
Last post was meant for Demoralized but I think we all know that.

Comment by Anon2U Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 1:32 pm
Jockey
Or his remarks - pages 12 - 14.
http://www.ilga.gov/house/transcripts/htrans92/t060102.pdf

Comment by Anyone Remember Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 1:34 pm
Pot Calling Kettle: I disagree. Auditors need to be independent. Why do you think they rotate auditors every few years? It’s so they don’t get too cozy with the auditee.

Comment by justacitizen Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 2:16 pm
When switching to a new pension system, the dollars earned should start a new pension plan. It is too common for ILGA reps to get a huge paying job and use that for a legislators pension. Only $$ earned as a legislator should qualify for a legislators pension. I believe that would be good for taxpayers.

Comment by Ben Franklin Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 3:07 pm
==It’s so they don’t get too cozy with the auditee.==

The General Assembly is the client, not the auditee. The AG audits the exec branch and agencies.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 3:20 pm
===The General Assembly is the client, not the auditee===

This.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 3:21 pm
I want to hear more on how and why any auditor general would go about “insulating Madigan and the system.”

I know those are English words, I just don’t understand what they are trying to communicate in that order and context.

Anon2U has clearly received information from the Planet Tralfamadore that mere mortals are not privy to.

And, also, has no clue as to the function and history of the office, And has never read a report from the office,

Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 3:34 pm
- Rep Keith Wheeler -,

Respectfully, I appreciate you making your case. That’s something I find honorable.

To your comment, however…

While (Auditor General - Designate ) Rep. Mautino absolved you of your simple-mixed and fool-hearty high-horse pretence, the “single” mitigating factor dismissing those you call as colleagues speaks to a more underlying theme;

You don’t trust… the people you share your Chamber with, or those that have sat, or sit just across the rotunda.

I hope your colleagues look past your untrustworthy eye towards them and decide to look at you as an individual, not as a caricature, that they just can’t trust.

Respectfully,

Oswego Willy

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 4:17 pm
===Jeanne is an independent voice in Springfield and she will not be controlled by the establishment network of Demicans or Republicrats.

She’s not going to bow down to the cult of Lincoln, that’s for sure.

Comment by ArchPundit Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 5:17 pm
====The General Assembly is the client, not the auditee. The AG audits the exec branch and agencies.

I would bet the most vociferous voices against Mautino are people who would think of themselves at Constitutional Conservatives. You know, the folks who think the Founders all thought like they do despite being actual individuals who fought amongst themselves all of the time.

The Founders didn’t really think much of political parties, but were more concerned with checks on executive power. Kind of like an Auditor General is.

Comment by ArchPundit Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 5:20 pm
Rep. Keith Wheeler wrote: “I don’t believe that the Auditor General should come from any part of the body of which he would be auditing.”

Of course not, but then the AG does not audit the General Assembly, the AG audits FOR the General Assembly. So, Rep. Mautino was being polite in not calling out your ignorance.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Wednesday, Oct 21, 15 @ 9:17 pm
” … are the most conservative, and often some of the most partisan in the chamber…”

Yeah, Andersson & Wehrli have really proven themselves to be hard-line right wingers! Lol, what a silly overstatement which, I guess, ginned up this silly echo chamber.

Jesiel is conservative but certainly not overtly partisan and just happens to be on the Audit Commission. She made her opinion known there. I suppose some would be happy if substantive comments had been offered against the appointment on the floor. But that didn’t happen despite the baseless claim of being overtly “partisan.” Last, the “haters hate” comment above is just a dumb one. So much for that deep thinker. #EchoChamber

Comment by Georg Sande Thursday, Oct 22, 15 @ 6:21 am
” Last, the “haters hate” - Georg Sande - comment above about Rich, Capitol Fax, and it’s commenters, just a dumb one. So much for that deep thinker. #GeorgSande”

Better.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 22, 15 @ 6:51 am
Allow me to be clearer in my response. While the Auditor General’s purpose is to audit the executive branch and agencies, programs within those agencies can be creations of the General Assembly.

With respect to the trust comments, I ‘respectfully’ disagree. In the private sector world from which I come, a loan officer at a bank may trust me enough to loan my entity (profit or not-for-profit) a significant amount of money. They may also require a third-party audit from an outside, accredited auditing firm. That means that the CPA who maintains my organization’s books (who is also accredited) is not eligible to do that audit. The loan officer requires an audit from someone with outside perspective for the purposes of due diligence – not because he doesn’t have trust in the borrowing party’s leadership or the organization’s in-place accounting team.

I looked at the Auditor General’s position in a similar light. I just believe the Illinois taxpayers are best served by someone from outside of the General Assembly to direct the objectives and timing of audits for the state.

On a personal level, I don’t know Frank that well, but I certainly respect him. I talked to several members on my side of the aisle who know Frank better and they all spoke highly of him. As I mentioned before, I wished him the best on his new endeavor and expect that he will follow the example set by his predecessor.

Comment by Rep Keith Wheeler Thursday, Oct 22, 15 @ 3:46 pm
=== As I mentioned before, I wished him the best on his new endeavor and expect that he will follow the example set by his predecessor. ===

You do know that his predecessor was Chief of Staff to Senate Democratic President Phil Rock. Frank will do as well.

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Oct 22, 15 @ 4:23 pm

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