99 Comments - LizPhairTax - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 12:53 pm: We should know by 2:45 - Wordslinger - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 12:56 pm: Jay Cutler is not busy for the next couple of weeks. He certainly knows how to cash big checks. - Amalia - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:00 pm: @wordslinger, oh how I wish I had already put the drink down….hilarious. - Stones - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:02 pm: Roland needs a little more time to tweak the mausoleum. - Arthur Andersen - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:03 pm: And we know once again why that gold ’shoe is named after him. - Mason born - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:03 pm: Wordslinger Brilliant sir. Especially since in order to avoid the appearance of impropriety Mr. Cutler will need to resign as QB of the Bears. Way to kill two birds with one stone. - Langhorne - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:03 pm: Pls do the right thing, Pat. Honor the memory of JBT. And spare us the homily. - Gooner - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:03 pm: Oswego, can I speculate now? - Formerly Known As... - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:05 pm: I thought they were supposed to run out of pre-authorized checks by Wednesday? Either way, this selection will say a lot about how Pat Quinn hopes he is remembered on his way out. Uniter? Partisan? Does the state come first? Or his own power and interests? This story is remarkable to watch, however Mr Quinn handles it, however the ILGA handles the special session request, and however Mr Rauner handles his part of things. - Gooner - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:06 pm: But in all seriousness, this is really an important decision for Pat’s legacy. Does he go out putting a hack in the position for a few weeks, or does he go with a professional? For an appointment that will last three weeks, this will make a huge difference as to how people remember Pat Quinn’s time as Governor. My money is on hack. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:07 pm: - Gooner - Nah, 1:27. - Oneman - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:07 pm: Wish I could make it over there - Mason born - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:09 pm: Formerly As long as he doesn’t appoint himself how does it matter who else? Of course I am assuming that the 12th brings a new appointment. - Ta da - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:10 pm: Interim Comptroller is …… Pat Quinn! - Oneman - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:10 pm: It’s gonna be either Brooke or a random Quinn Fellow or someone who was in his office today - Oswego Willy - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:10 pm: - Gooner -, I responded to your thoughtful response, I hope you saw it. - anon - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:11 pm: Will someone stream the press conference? I have a feeling it will be a must watch. - Gooner - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:11 pm: Oswego, I did and I appreciate it. - Robin Ventura - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:13 pm: I heard William Kelly was outside his 16th floor office at the Thompson center begging for it. Seeing how he was outside Rauners victory party begging to get in election night and that didn’t work he is now a Dem. - Anonymoiis - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:14 pm: In a spirit of bipartisanship, Quinn appoints Quinnochio as interim Comptroller - Del Clinkton - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:15 pm: Quinn would appoint himself. Too funny. Outgoing Moderate Republican Governor Patrick Quinn may be a lot of things, but thats not one of them. - Ron Burgundy - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:15 pm: “It’s gonna be either Brooke or a random Quinn Fellow or someone who was in his office today.” The best humor always has a kernel of truth to it. - Formerly Known As... - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:15 pm: Mason born - we are thinking in similar terms. That assumption will make all the difference in the world. There are wide gaps between appointing someone like Nancy Kimmee or a placeholder until January 12 vs coordinating and appointing a hack with instructions to gear up for fighting this. There are also variations in between. We will see. - Precinct Captain - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:22 pm: ==Either way, this selection will say a lot about how Pat Quinn hopes he is remembered on his way out. Uniter? Partisan? Does the state come first? Or his own power and interests?== Yes, the textbooks are already being printed, “Governor Pat Quinn, with his one month comptroller appointment, _______(united/divided) Illinois causing great ______(peace/upheaval) because of his________(selfless governance/rabid partisanship). - OneMan - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:26 pm: Looks like ABC7 will have it on the net… http://abc7chicago.com/live/23379/ - OneMan - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:27 pm: Perhaps it will be that guy he named as Canoe Czar… - Ron Burgundy - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:27 pm: Nancy Kimme says it’s not her. Well then… - Formerly Known As... - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:29 pm: == Yes, the textbooks are already being printed == Thanks for the chuckle. Humor does not diminish the fact that this will be one of his final acts in office, that it is normal to think of one’s legacy towards the end of a term, and that it will be remembered as one of his most important acts during that final stretch. How does he want citizens to view him and people to remember him? What is most important to him? We will see in a few minutes. - Mason born - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:29 pm: Formerly I suspect that Ms. Kimmee was stricken off the list the second BR mentioned her. I hope I am wrong but I suspect someone from the PQ friends and family plan. I suspect even on the Friends and Family plan they aren’t going to torpedo a future career by pushing it. - Ducky LaMoore - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:30 pm: Crossing my fingers for Paul Vallas or Rauner’s least favorite qualified republican. - William j Kelly - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:31 pm: Robin, Be careful what you wish for. btw, what are the caps in the comptroller race? http://youtu.be/ihx5cLgUuY4 - OneMan - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:31 pm: He is grabbing someone out of the food court as we wait… - Gooner - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:31 pm: PC, I suspect those textbooks will read “Pat Quinn, who seemed to greatly care for the poor and underprivileged, never managed to put their interests ahead of political calculation and political rewards, which lasted until his last act in which he appointed [Hack to be named] to the office, rather than to seek consensus and agreement in honor of the greatly admired predecessor.” - Precinct Captain - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:31 pm: The video feed is live folks. - OneMan - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:31 pm: ABC 7 Stream is now live… - Dirty Red - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:32 pm: = Nancy Kimme says it’s not her. = I imagine just having a Republican on the list made this Governor uncomfortable. - Ron Burgundy - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:33 pm: =I imagine just having a Republican on the list made this Governor uncomfortable. = When has he ever not been uncomfortable? - ??? - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:36 pm: CBS 2 last night said Quinn was expected to appoint a “non-political” person to fill the remainder of the term. Does “non-political” just mean that they’re not a politician (but could still be someone who was in some way associated with his campaign)? Guess we’ll find out soon. - Griz - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:36 pm: Who needs a bump in their retirement pension? A couple a days for a increased benefit for the rest of your life. Where do I sign up? - Snucka - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:37 pm: Damn, Jay Levine loves being in front of the camera. Stermer will do a fine job for a couple of weeks. - OneMan - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:38 pm: “Quinn was expected” The three most dangerous words in Illinois political reporting… - Anonymoiis - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:40 pm: This just in: Quinn appoints his mother as Comptroller - Formerly Known As... - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:41 pm: They just gave the 2 minute notice before the Gov speaks - Anonymoiis - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:43 pm: ==It’s gonna be either Brooke or a random Quinn Fellow or someone who was in his office today== Winner winner chicken dinner - Formerly Known As... - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:45 pm: Stepping down January 12 according to media reports. Good choice, Governor Quinn. Thank you for acting with class on this. And thank you, Mr. Stermer. Enjoy your pay bump and thanks for not forcing the state into ==Constitutional crisis== as some had said. - Snucka - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:45 pm: OK, so everyone can now congratulate Quinn on doing the right thing and we can move on. - Ron Burgundy - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:47 pm: Meh on Stermer. At least it’s temporary and not an unnecessarily provocative choice. But this opening… I’d like to start with a few words about JBT, but mostly about me… - Gooner - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:47 pm: There is something really offensive about Quinn talking about JBT being non-partisan as he makes a partisan choice to fill her office. - Wensicia - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:49 pm: Anyone want to predict the Rauner reaction? - Formerly Known As... - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:50 pm: Lanhorne - so much for skipping the homily. - Rich Miller - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:51 pm: Gooner, Nancy’s cool with this appointment. Chill out. - Ron Burgundy - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:51 pm: – Anyone want to predict the Rauner reaction? – I don’t think he will care much about Stermer, will recognize that he is rightly stepping down on January 12th, and then reaffirm he’s against the special election and intends to appoint someone shortly to a full, four-year term. - Mason born - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:52 pm: Ok well done Mr. Quinn. Congratulations Mr. Stermer please keep your promise. - Rich Miller - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:55 pm: ===I don’t think he will care much about Stermer=== Figuring that’s correct. - ??? - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:56 pm: Classy acknowledgement of Nancy Kimme and Topinka’s staff. Well done. - 60611 - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:56 pm: Great pick. A lot of overheated and uninformed rhetoric lately falls flat. Now, the governor-elect just needs to explain why he’s against a special election in ‘16. - Formerly Known As... - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:56 pm: 4 percent - that would have been a gracious move on his part. Hadn’t considered it like that before. He could have just bumped Nancy up to Comptroller for a few weeks and really honored the spirit he was just rambling about. Sure enough, ==Why not appoint Nancy== was just the first question by the press. Either way, good on Quinn and Stermer to only go through January 12 and not force things into court. Uncertain so far how the lobbying for the special election will go over following his comments about the life and death of JBT. - Formerly Known As... - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 1:59 pm: And now the second question is also about Nancy staying on but appointing someone else for 24 days. In the reporters words, ==How is this anything more than a pension bump?== Seems a but cynical, but maybe I am jaded. And now the 3rd question is also about the same. Ouch. Unexpected. - Mouthy - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 2:02 pm: He’ll provide a needed signature and little else. There will be no special election and Rauner will appoint someone to a four year term. A constitutional amendment will be forgotten by tomorrow, IMO.. - Anyone Remember - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 2:03 pm: In view of the snarky question about the appointment being just to bump up Stermer’s pension, how much of an increase would Kimme have see? A former Comptroller? (Thinking Hynes or Didrickson, now you know who.) A lame duck legislator? Short of appointing someone who is not, nor will ever be, vested in ANY public pension system, there will be a pension bump. - Precinct Captain - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 2:03 pm: Will Bruce Rauner appoint Nancy Kimme on January 12? - Kathryn - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 2:03 pm: how much pension bump are we talking about. Quinn will never change. appoints political cronies and helps them financially - Amalia - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 2:04 pm: this is fine. now the hot potato comes to the legislature and Rauner can continue to look like he does not trust the will of the people or he can support change. - Anyone Remember - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 2:05 pm: Can’t type straight - should have been “seen” instead of “see” and “not” instead of “now”. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 2:06 pm: Caretaker choice? - check Nancy Kimme cool? - check Resignation on the 12th? - check For this specific moment, this momemt, I’m cool with things. If Quinn moves forward without clearing things with MJM and his criteria being officiay “met”, then I will have disappointment. It still be be a heavy lift. The second part with the resignation hoes a long way, but still loads to do. That’s “tomorrow”. - mary - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 2:06 pm: Excellent choice to help ensure a fine transition. Stermer has intergity and command of the state’s financial matters. Thank you. - Bipartisan - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 2:06 pm: Typical Quinn. Self serving…how nice for Stermer to have such a pension boost! - Demoralized - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 2:07 pm: I think the Governor ended up handling this appointment very well. - Mason born - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 2:09 pm: To me complaining that Stermer gets a pension bump is a bit unfair. Anyone going into that spot was going to get a bump. - ZC - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 2:09 pm: Quinn has to appoint someone before January 12th. We’ve discussed this. Otherwise the bills don’t legally go out. Doesn’t whomever he appoint, get the dreaded “pension bump”? It’s better than the alternative. I suppose the argument is appoint Nancy Kimme, but Rauner has not pledged at all, to my knowledge, that she’ll keep the job after January 12. So is it fine and dandy to give the Kimme the pension bump, for a short-term job, but it’s an outrage to give it to Stermer? Not seeing it yet. - Formerly Known As... - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 2:10 pm: == Will Bruce Rauner appoint Nancy Kimme on January 12? == Is that a 24 day term as well? - Robin Ventura - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 2:10 pm: Tom Cross just found a landing spot . - Ducky LaMoore - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 2:12 pm: What can I say…? He looks like a Comptroller. - Precinct Captain - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 2:13 pm: ==- Mason born - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 2:09 pm:== IOKIYAR - Last Bull Moose - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 2:13 pm: Quinn needed someone he could completely trust to resign on January 12th. Jerry Stermer can be trusted. People, any pension bump is trivial. - Snucka - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 2:13 pm: This is Quinn’s appointment. He is still the Governor. It makes total sense to appoint someone that you know and trust, and Mr. Stermer is well-respected on both sides of the aisle. Topinka’s staff will not be losing their jobs over the next several weeks. Nancy Kimme will stay in her position. All good. End of story there. Now, it’s up to the GA to decide whether to call for a special election, which they are clearly allowed to do. That doesn’t mean they are required to do so. If Madigan, for some reason, agrees that four years is not an appreciable amount of time or just doesn’t care to fight the new Governor on January 12, then Rauner’s appointment will serve for four years. - Demoralized - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 2:17 pm: Rauner couldn’t say anything nice about Jerry Stermer? I’m not too impressed with Rauner’s statement. - Formerly Known As... - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 2:18 pm: Nearly anyone would receive a pension bump, as @Mason born and @Anyone Remember point out. The general tone of the questions focused more on ==why not== appoint Nancy Kimmee for the 24 days since she is staying on to run things, rather than the pension bump. I did not expect that to be such a strong point during the Q & A, much less the first three questions. My feelings resemble Oswego Willy’s on this. Good move not forcing this into court, which was the most proper and respectful thing imho. - Norseman - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 2:19 pm: The question: Was the hubbub an overeaction to idle speculation or was the action in response to the reaction? In any event, it’s good that Quinn has chosen the high road. - Mason born - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 2:20 pm: Precinct @2:13 I suspect if roles were reversed it would still be. IOKIYAD - Rich Miller - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 2:21 pm: ===or was the action in response to the reaction?=== A little of both https://capitolfax.com/2014/12/19/subscribers-only-more-comptroller-stuff/ - Mouthy - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 2:23 pm: I seem to remember that in the past, in a serious attempt to pass a constitutional amendment to combine the two offices the Speaker was opposed to the idea and it went nowhere.. - Name/Nickname/Anon - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 2:24 pm: Stermer’s 2013 Salary was 125K, comptroller looks to be about 135K, so unless he gets some sort of bump into GARS, there should be hardly any difference in pension (4 year FAE). However if this qualifies him for GARS benefits instead of SERS benefits, it could be a big jump. - A guy... - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 2:27 pm: Pension Bumps are a sore subject with good reason, but as stated; nearly anyone would wind up with some bump. Is this one all that big of a bump. Jerry was doing pretty well where he was, wasn’t he? How much are we really talking here? Knowing many will say “any” bump is too much, Jerry seems to be a well regarded guy by most people. If Nancy’s happy with him, we should all follow her lead. - Wordslinger - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 2:30 pm: Any of the howlers want to give Quinn credit for doing the right thing? Nancy probably would have gotten the nod if Rauner kept his mouth shut and didn’t try to muscle Quinn (muscle he did not have, except in his own mind). No governor would allow a governor-elect tell him what to do. Respect the office. - Formerly Known As... - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 2:42 pm: == Any of the howlers want to give Quinn credit for doing the right thing? == With pleasure. My comments giving credit to Quinn were up even before the snarky and smug comments about now giving Quinn credit were up. Many other ==howlers== have also plainly given Quinn credit in their comments above. It was an appropriate move by the Governor, whether it was caused by public outcry, his own feelings, or a combination of both as Rich has noted. - so... - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 2:52 pm: ==Any of the howlers want to give Quinn credit for doing the right thing? Nancy probably would have gotten the nod if Rauner kept his mouth shut and didn’t try to muscle Quinn (muscle he did not have, except in his own mind). No governor would allow a governor-elect tell him what to do. Respect the office.== So, in your mind, acting like a petulant, spiteful child is “doing the right thing?” Good to know. - Walker - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 3:07 pm: Stermer is a very good choice, and a nice person to boot. And he’s already announced he’s leaving to make way for Rauner’s pick. Time to exhale. - Anon - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 3:10 pm: Just relieved to avoid a legal/constitutional drama, and get onto addressing real problems starting Jan 12. Not inclined to give Quinn full credit for doing right thing,since he was essentially boxed into it by AGM, and special session appears more show than go - Agricola - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 3:23 pm: If Mr. Stermer would qualify for a GARS pension (see 40 ILCS 5/2-105 for service requirements), for the first four years of GARS-eligible service, the pension is set at 3% of the office holder’s final salary for each year of service (https://www.srs.illinois.gov/GARS/retireben_gars.htm). With 24 days of service as Comptroller, his total benefit would be 24/365ths of 3% or 0.1973% of his final salary. Assuming that Mr. Stermer receives the same salary as the late Comptroller Topinka ($135,669.70), the most that this service could increase his pension (and it is not completely clear that it would) is $267.62 per year. With that extra $21 per month, Mr. Stermer will finally be able to upgrade from basic cable. - Rich Miller - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 3:26 pm: For all those needlessly whining about Stermer’s pension, go here: https://capitolfax.com/2014/12/19/no-pension-bump-for-stermer-mjm-still-not-persuaded-on-special-session/ - Scooby - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 3:35 pm: Quinn really looked like a fool. He got nothing from this but a black eye. The first question from the press was “why not Nancy?” He couldn’t answer it. The second was that this looked like he was padding the pension of a buddy. Basically, he just couldn’t be a gentleman and do the right thing. Be gone Pat Quinn. And no JBT would not have done this. She was a statesman and a lady. - Demoralized - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 3:41 pm: ==Quinn really looked like a fool.== Only if you are a fool did he look like a fool. ==Basically, he just couldn’t be a gentleman and do the right thing== I’ve yet to see what exactly Quinn did here that was wrong. Methinks that some of you were going to complain no matter what he did. - Walker - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 3:42 pm: It’s disheartening and sad that anyone would even think that Stermer would take a pension bump, and that this was part of Quinn’s decision. - Rich Miller - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 3:44 pm: ===Methinks that some of you were going to complain no matter what he did. === Yep. The election is over, people. Enough already. - so... - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 3:56 pm: =====Methinks that some of you were going to complain no matter what he did. === Yep. The election is over, people. Enough already.== Has anyone told Quinn? - Pot calling kettle - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 4:02 pm: Good move by Quinn. Now, Rauner should take the high road and ask the GA for a 2016 Special Election. It looks good to put it to the voters quickly, but without added expense. Still cannot understand why Mr. Reformer wasn’t all over that idea. - Wordslinger - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 4:21 pm: So… What’s your problem, dude? Please explain how appointing a decent man who promises to resign on inauguration day are the actions of a “petulant, spiteful child.” You dont know what those words mean. That was the best grown up outcome within Quinn’s power and control. Savvy? Quinn wasn’t the guy calling press conferences hours after JBTs death asserting some imaginary entitlements to a not-yet-cold chair. Roll that behavior around your thoughtsicles for a while and get ready for the next four years. - Anonymous - Friday, Dec 19, 14 @ 4:37 pm: Maybe Nancy didn’t want the gig for a few weeks as she is focused on Rauner’s transition. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.