This just in…
Thursday, Dec 2, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller
* 10:43 am - A revised “fumigation” plan just passed the Senate unanimously.
HB 5057 would require the governor to submit names to the Senate for hundreds of agency directors, executive directors, their top aides and board and commission members whose terms have expired. If the governor doesn’t submit replacements, or doesn’t resubmit current occupants for confirmation, they’ll be automatically terminated.
* From Senate President Cullerton’s office…
The Illinois Senate today passed legislation that would push Governor Pat Quinn to start his first full term with a clean slate of new appointees. HB 5057 would cut off nearly 700 holdovers and vacancies 30 days after the law takes effect and require new nominations be forwarded to the Senate for public confirmation hearings.
“This bill isn’t about penalizing any individual public servant, it’s about preserving the checks and balances mandated by our state constitution,” said President Cullerton. “The beginning of a new General Assembly and Governor Quinn’s first full term can be a fresh start. It’s the right time to restore institutional practices that have fallen apart in Illinois over the last 10 years.”
The Senate confirmation process is one of the rare opportunities for the Senate and the public to review the work performance of top officials. However, hundreds of government appointees have continued in their state posts even though their terms long ago expired. A list supplied by President Cullerton’s office includes names of top officials from the Blagojevich and Ryan administrations that have remained in their positions for years without confirmation hearings.
Following the Senate President’s introduction of this bill, Governor Quinn reiterated his call for his cabinet members to resign as part of a reorganization of the administration. Nothing in the legislation prohibits those officials from being re-appointed for the jobs they’ve held. However, they would not be able to continue in their positions after 30 days if a new nomination is not sent to the Senate.
- Just Because - Thursday, Dec 2, 10 @ 10:49 am:
I think that is wonderful its about time the state get back to being offical and stop all this acting. Now these people can be accountable
- wordslinger - Thursday, Dec 2, 10 @ 10:51 am:
I suspect Quinn is going to hear a lot of “Pat, have you lost weight?” in coming days, lol.
- Draznnl (Rhymes with orange) - Thursday, Dec 2, 10 @ 11:01 am:
As one who left state employment about a year ago, I must say that it’s about time. Too bad they only talk about expired terms now.
- Madame Defarge - Thursday, Dec 2, 10 @ 11:10 am:
Great idea the Governor is abusing his power and depriving the General Assembly of it authority to Advise and Consent, but who thinks Quinn will not Veto this. If he wants to comply he will just do it with out a law binding him. If he signs it it is like Blago’s signing of the JCAR bill.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Dec 2, 10 @ 11:17 am:
By my count, Quinn has now “reiterated his call for his cabinet members to resign” three times in the press– is there a public list of who has voluntarily resigned so far?
- Beowulf - Thursday, Dec 2, 10 @ 11:18 am:
My question would be: Does Governor Quinn have people “ready and waiting” in the wings to replace those who he chooses to eliminate? Or, perhaps these positions and jobs are possibly not really that critical or essential that they need to be filled?
As an Illinois resident and taxpayer, you would just automatically assume that this has all been “well-thought out” of beforehand prior to being implemented. However, after watching the “early-release of state prisoners” fiasco by Governor Quinn and his stellar appointee Mike Randle (not so long ago), I just thought that it might perhaps be worth asking the question.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Dec 2, 10 @ 11:27 am:
Rich, Can you post Senator Cullerton’s list again?
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Dec 2, 10 @ 12:08 pm:
Anonymous, what list?
- lincoln's beard - Thursday, Dec 2, 10 @ 12:10 pm:
Anonymous:
http://www.senatedem.ilga.gov/index.php/sen-cullerton-home/1345-fresh-start-legislation-to-close-loopholes-in-senates-advise-and-consent-ability
- Monstrum - Thursday, Dec 2, 10 @ 12:13 pm:
I think Anonymous is asking about this list of the holdovers and vacancies -
https://capitolfax.com/HoldOversandVacanccies111810.pdf
- JustaJoe - Thursday, Dec 2, 10 @ 12:45 pm:
I hope it keeps rolling and perhaps grows in scope in the House, where the more broad SB 1333, as amended, still stands. There are scores of Blago-era appointees, some exempt from the personnel code as well as Rutan, that are still comfortable taking up space and payroll in the agencies. If they were appointed, serving at the pleasure of the Governor, add ‘em to the list.
- Loop Lady - Thursday, Dec 2, 10 @ 12:51 pm:
Yesssss!!!
So tell me again how Pat is just like Rod? NOT!!
Get the broom out…
- Can't Say My Nickname - Thursday, Dec 2, 10 @ 12:57 pm:
I know of several agency directors and their top aides who worked on Quinn’s campaign. It will be interesting to see how Quinn handles this. Are there any Democratic County Chairman targeted in this new fumigation legislation?
- Cal Skinner - Thursday, Dec 2, 10 @ 1:09 pm:
After the passage of HB 5154, I guess the Senators won’t be able to see the performance standards of state employees up for confirmation.
- cassandra - Thursday, Dec 2, 10 @ 1:57 pm:
If I recall correctly, when Quinn asked the U of I trustees to resign, some said they wouldn’t, and they stayed.
A useful lesson for those reading those please resign memos from the guv’s office. Just say no.
Seems like the guy really can’t fire anybody.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Dec 2, 10 @ 2:18 pm:
Thanks! That’s the list.
- Monstrum - Thursday, Dec 2, 10 @ 3:54 pm:
Cassandra - I see your point, but I think those Trustees’ terms were not expired. Here it’s for those who have “over-stayed” their set term, so they don’t really have the same leg to stand on as the trustees did.
- anonymous too - Thursday, Dec 2, 10 @ 5:37 pm:
Quinn is a poor manager and as his flaccid call for resignation demonstrates, he’s not much at leadership either. Reality aside, tax payers can’t/won’t pay for the quality of agency directors/leadership it wants, so if there is a mass departure of holdovers their jobs will likely be filled with another set of under-qualified state employees. I’m just saying…..