More appointment drama
Friday, Dec 12, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Bruce Rauner’s lawyers sat down with Gov. Pat Quinn’s lawyers the other day…
Rauner’s attorneys met with the general counsel of the governor’s office and an ethics officer. According to a Rauner spokesman, they made three points, including asking that Quinn appoint Topinka top aide Nancy Kimme for the term expiring January 12.
Rauner attorneys also “made comprehensive legal analysis of our position, which is that there are two vacancies and Bruce can fill the second,” spokesman Mike Schrimpf wrote. “Asked if they had any conflicting legal authority to point to, they were unable to do so.”
Actually, what I heard from both sides was that the Quinn lawyers merely listened to the reasoning, thanked them for providing it and departed.
Everybody just needs to chill out a bit here.
* Meanwhile…
Lame-duck Illinois governors would be prohibited from duplicating the political power play that Pat Quinn used to muscle his former campaign manager into the job of executive director of the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, under a crackdown proposed Thursday.
State Sen. Julie Morrison, a freshman who represents the north suburbs, was so offended by the 4-to-3 vote that installed 30-year-old Lou Bertuca in the $160,000-a-year job, she wants to do the legislative equivalent of blocking the plate.
“The executive director of the Illinois Sports Finance Authority is among the highest-paid state employees. A governor who’s leaving office shouldn’t be able to use the position as a cushy landing spot,” Morrison was quoted as saying in a news release.
Morrison’s bill would prohibit the state agency that built and manages U.S. Cellular Field and rebuilt Soldier Field from appointing a new executive director during the 60-day period after an election and before a lame-duck governor leaves office.
As I said yesterday, Quinn has unintentionally framed this Topinka replacement debate by pulling that power play at the Sports Facilities Authority. Lou’s a good guy, but, c’mon, man. When Tier One targets from your own party start introducing press release bills to clean up after your messes, you can be pretty sure you’re on the wrong track.
* It’s difficult to argue with this Tribune editorial...
If the old Pat Quinn were around, he would be booking a hotel conference room for a Sunday morning press conference to scream about the shenanigans of a lame-duck governor.
That Quinn would roast the lame-duck governor for sliding his former campaign manager into a $175,000-a-year job with a two-year contract. That Quinn would complain about the lame-duck governor cutting a questionable Lottery contract settlement on his way out the door.
If only that Pat Quinn were around to raise hell.
Instead, it’s Gov. Pat Quinn whose administration is behaving like its plucking all the B and R keys off the computer keyboards right before Bruce Rauner moves into the mansion in Springfield.
- Amalia - Friday, Dec 12, 14 @ 3:14 pm:
“….that the Quinn lawyers merely listened to the reasoning, thanked them for providing it and departed.”
so much of lawyering is about using words to push for something to go one way. it’s often not about the law. the act of listening and departing is not falling into that trap.
- Mason born - Friday, Dec 12, 14 @ 3:18 pm:
–If the old Pat Quinn were around, he would be booking a hotel conference room for a Sunday morning press conference to scream about the shenanigans of a lame-duck governor–
Yep!
Which is why I have little hope that Quinn will do the adult thing and save the “people of IL good and true” from a bunch of litigation over a Comptroller appointment. He just doesn’t have it in him to leave gracefully.
- steve schnorf - Friday, Dec 12, 14 @ 3:19 pm:
…and the Sen and the Trib can’t even get the salary straight. Sigh. Does anyone here no how to play this game?
- Georg Sande - Friday, Dec 12, 14 @ 3:32 pm:
I think I no (sic), Steve. Play it straight. And that’s what the old Pat Quinn would be requesting happen now if anyone else were Governor. But all outside this echo chamber knows (note the spelling) what he’ll really do. He’ll mess this up. Big time.
- Wordslinger - Friday, Dec 12, 14 @ 3:34 pm:
The Rauner crew would do a service by releasing their “comprehensive legal analysis.”
If they believe they have the power of appointment after Rauner is sworn in, what do they care what Quinn thinks? He’ll be gone and they can just proceed.
- Demoralized - Friday, Dec 12, 14 @ 3:34 pm:
Attention Governor-Elect Rauner. Please note that your title is Governor-Elect. You don’t get to make any decisions for about another month. But, thank you for your consultation.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Dec 12, 14 @ 3:35 pm:
===But all outside this echo chamber knows (note the spelling) what he’ll really do. He’ll mess this up. Big time. ===
Actually, most of the people I talk to believe exactly that.
- Demoralized - Friday, Dec 12, 14 @ 3:36 pm:
==If they believe they have the power of appointment after Rauner is sworn in, what do they care what Quinn thinks? ==
Exactly. I don’t understand why everybody is approaching this like Quinn has some authority to decide how long his appointment would serve.
- steve schnorf - Friday, Dec 12, 14 @ 3:40 pm:
because they’re scared he might be right and they don’t want to take a chance of losing the office on a blind bet. It’s why a deal is almost always better, if achieveable
- Black Ivy - Friday, Dec 12, 14 @ 3:41 pm:
#nowords #holdingmynose #simplydespicable
- Demoralized - Friday, Dec 12, 14 @ 3:43 pm:
Black Ivy
When you have something intelligent to add to a conversation other than your dopey twitter tags let us all know.
- Ducky LaMoore - Friday, Dec 12, 14 @ 3:50 pm:
#Demoralized
- Demoralized - Friday, Dec 12, 14 @ 3:51 pm:
Ducky
I’ll close out my Friday with that laugh. lol
- JS Mill - Friday, Dec 12, 14 @ 3:54 pm:
Meh…by engaging the outgoing governor our governor-elect and team are only serving his need to remain relevant. He is going to go away soon and, in reality, if he wants to appoint somebody that is within his scope of authority to appoint he may likely do so. The most you may be able to do is to make sure they know their career is toast if they accept and move on. You have far more important things to focus on right now.
- Anonymous - Friday, Dec 12, 14 @ 3:55 pm:
Up until this point I thought the Rauner people were strategic and had some common sense…
But, now that they are expecting Governor Quinn to appoint their person to a coveted statewide position — underscores their lack of political acumen
I suspect that Pat Quinn already knows his position — he’s justing waiting until next week to pull the trigger
If you are the Quinn folks — why would you care what Rauner thinks? I mean really — this is not a Martin Luther King moment — more like a Malcolm X moment
- Meister Brau - Friday, Dec 12, 14 @ 3:55 pm:
I do believe Mr. Quinn gets (and has a duty) to appoint a comptroller as soon as possible when necessary. After that, I believe the Governor appoints. Weird situation to modern eyes but it is the law. I also do not see a general election in the 1970 Constitutional Convention of 1970 for this.
- Bill White - Friday, Dec 12, 14 @ 3:56 pm:
Courts are loathe to issue advisory opinions.
Pat Quinn is going to need to appoint someone before the real fun can begin. And there is no case to be filed before January 12, 2015.
Of course, if he appoints someone who chooses to VOLUNTARILY RESIGN in January, then this won’t ever get to court.
- Big Muddy - Friday, Dec 12, 14 @ 3:56 pm:
IF (and it’s a big if) Rauner can truly shake up Springfield and bring in a new era of politics, Quinn will forever be known as the last of the old-school, crony, inside dealing Governors to grace us with there superior knowledge. Quinn’s final chapter sure isn’t going to read well at all if he keeps this up.
- Very Fed Up - Friday, Dec 12, 14 @ 3:56 pm:
I’m sure Quinn would claim Lou Bertuca had dozens of other offers to make 6 figures from the private sector and we should be so lucky to have a great public servant.
The Pat Quinn of 25 years ago that was a reformer would of been disgusted by this kind of behavior. Shame to see him going out like this.
- Scooby - Friday, Dec 12, 14 @ 3:58 pm:
Quinn needs to do the right thing for sure. He is a lame duck and should not use this tragedy to pay back his cronies. It will be a hard spot to fill as there can only be one Judy. So, he should appoint Nancy Kimme to keep things going and give the Rauner team time to fill some very large shoes.
- Western Ave. Doug - Friday, Dec 12, 14 @ 4:08 pm:
- Big Muddy - Friday, Dec 12, 14 @ 3:56 pm:
==IF (and it’s a big if) Rauner can truly shake up Springfield and bring in a new era of politics, Quinn will forever be known as the last of the old-school, crony, inside dealing Governors to grace us with there superior knowledge. Quinn’s final chapter sure isn’t going to read well at all if he keeps this up.==
Well stated. Quinn is becoming like Frank Skeffington from the Last Hurrah without the grace and class.
- Wordslinger - Friday, Dec 12, 14 @ 4:09 pm:
“… If he keeps this up.”
Has Quinn done anything yet?
Didn’t Bertuca say he will resign if Rauner asks him to?
- Bill White - Friday, Dec 12, 14 @ 4:22 pm:
= = Instead, it’s Gov. Pat Quinn whose administration is behaving like its plucking all the B and R keys off the computer keyboards right before Bruce Rauner moves into the mansion in Springfield. = =
That is what the Bush 43 people said about Bill Clinton (except it was “W” keys) - - however it later turned out those stories were not true.
I do argue with the Tribune story (as Wordslinger posted: “Didn’t Bertuca say he will resign if Rauner asks him to?”)
- Formerly Known As... - Friday, Dec 12, 14 @ 4:24 pm:
There is absolutely no need for this to become a contentious process unless a small handful of individuals - one in particular - choose to make it so and force the issue.
You can appoint someone to finish out the term gracefully, or you can choose to turn this into a drawn-out, bare-knuckled ==Constitutional Crisis== as some have called it.
Not to mention the additional confusion over whether checks and payments bearing the signature of a Quinn-appointed Comptroller would be valid after January 12. If the Court rules that the person whose name was on those checks was not actually acting legitimately as the Comptroller of Illinois, then do those payments suddenly have to be re-issued or become null and void? That will lead to additional lawsuits. Round and round we go, but only if we do so by choice.
- northernwatersports - Friday, Dec 12, 14 @ 4:25 pm:
Alright already…it’s become clear that Team Rauner doesn’t really care what anyone thinks. They could just as well keep their collective mouth shut and let things happen…
The Governor ELECT can just keeps his yap shut and do what he wants come inauguration day. Until then, I voted for Quinn, he won, the other guy lost and he gets to be the boss until then…Just like team Rauner may get to experience in 4 years.
- Pot calling kettle - Friday, Dec 12, 14 @ 4:28 pm:
===plucking all the B and R keys off the computer keyboards ===
Busted! Do we have to put them back?
- Formerly Known As... - Friday, Dec 12, 14 @ 4:29 pm:
In other words, Professor Lousin’s suggestion appears to be the best way forward for Illinois following such a divisive and contentious election.
Don’t choose to draw the battle out longer in a bitter fashion. Doing so is both unnecessary and avoidable at this point.
- Sunshine - Friday, Dec 12, 14 @ 4:30 pm:
Golly, can’t we all just get along…..well…..no.
Looks like Blagojevich rubbed off on Quinn.
- Black Ivy - Friday, Dec 12, 14 @ 4:39 pm:
– Demoralized - Friday, Dec 12, 14 @ 3:43 pm:
Black Ivy
When you have something intelligent to add to a conversation other than your dopey twitter tags let us all know. —
Demoralized, how about this. Your governor’s days are numbered and we have the people of this great state to thank for it. Governor Quinn’s unseemly handling of the appointment of the late Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka’s vacancy does not bode well for his own legacy. As many have stated, Governor-Elect Rauner and Comptroller Topinka had become rather close in the last few months. It is a tribute to her office and, quite frankly, the honorable thing to do to appoint her Chief of Staff in the interim and allow Governor-Elect Rauner to govern. To fill Comptroller Topinka’s office with a Democrat is simply despicable, in my humble opinion.
#goawaydemoralized #showsomerespect
- Jack Handy - Friday, Dec 12, 14 @ 4:48 pm:
“The more you talk the less people listen”
- Formerly Known As... - Friday, Dec 12, 14 @ 4:49 pm:
== what do they care what Quinn thinks? ==
Seeing as how a ==Constitutional Crisis==, extensive litigation, and the possibility that payments authorized or counter-signed by his appointment after January 12th could ultimately wind up invalidated and lead to additional litigation, it seems as though a great many people should care what Quinn thinks.
This fiasco is entirely avoidable.
- 47th Ward - Friday, Dec 12, 14 @ 4:49 pm:
===Didn’t Bertuca say he will resign if Rauner asks him to?===
I think that was Meister. I don’t recall Bertuca making a similar pledge but I could be (and often am) wrong.
- JS Mill - Friday, Dec 12, 14 @ 4:50 pm:
-it is a tribute to her office and, quite frankly, the honorable thing to do to appoint her Chief of Staff in the interim and allow Governor-Elect Rauner to govern-
If that were the requirement it would be spelled out in the law, it is not. Until he is sworn in the “governor-elect” does not get to govern. I hardly think any reasonable person thinks this rises to despicable, that is a bit over the top.