So, where exactly is Senate President Emil Jones on reimposing the electric utility rate freeze? And what does he intend to do about Ameren’s skyrocketing rates?

* Bloomington Pantagraph…

The top Democrat in the Illinois Senate again doused hopes Wednesday that the General Assembly might somehow roll back huge electric rate increases. […]

“I know one thing for certain: If you freeze your rates for a year you’re still going to have that cliff to fall off a year from now. You’ve got to quit playing games with this particular issue,” said Jones. […]

“I don’t pay too much attention to the House. They play to the cheers of the crowd rather than doing the responsible thing. We intend to do the responsible thing over here,” he told reporters.

* St. Louis Post-Dispatch…

But there have been indications that [Senate President Jones] is softening that stance in the face of public outrage over the power bills. Jones spokeswoman Cindy Davidsmeyer said Wednesday that Jones remains “personally opposed” to freezing utility rates, but added: “He certainly realizes that, especially in Ameren territory, there is a very serious problem downstate.”

The question becomes, if he’s “personally opposed,” will that mean he won’t block an attempt to roll back Ameren’s rates?

Then again, even if he does accede to that demand, House Speaker Madigan will likely amend the bill to include ComEd and lob it right back across the Statehouse hall.

Meanwhile…

Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn is getting behind legislation that would enable voters to oust members of the Illinois Commerce Commission, the state’s utility regulator. Under House Bill 1916, commission members would have to stand for retention or recall on the ballot at the first general election after they were appointed and confirmed.

Thoughts?

*** UPDATE *** Jim Muir’s Southern Illinoisan column today is written as a letter to Emil Jones…

During the past four weeks I know of three small businesses that have closed specifically because of the electric rate increase. While that might not mean much to folks who live in a large metropolitan area, in a rural area like Southern Illinois the loss of any business is devastating and the trickle-down effect is even more devastating. The latest closure is a daycare center where the electric bill went from $800 in January to $2,300 in February. […]

Even to a small town newspaper hack like me it’s not a great leap to perceive that maybe, just maybe, those hundreds of thousands of dollars are the reason for your stubborn and wrongheaded refusal to call this legislation for a vote in the Senate. As we’re often told, perception is everything and from what I hear coming from other corners of the state the belief that you’re in cahoots with the electric companies is gaining momentum these days. But you have a chance to prove that perception wrong along with a rare opportunity that many people never get - the opportunity to correct a wrong and make it right.