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Democrats behaving… slightly better?

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Illinois

* Speaker Madigan continues to try and get in front of the Scott Lee Cohen disaster…

The lieutenant governor’s office would be eliminated beginning in 2015 under a proposed state constitutional amendment filed today by Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.

Full text.

* And the Democratic leaders are obviously trying to show some transparency bonafides…

Facing a dire budget situation, Gov. Pat Quinn has been lobbying lawmakers for months to give him more time to craft a state budget.

On Wednesday, legislative leaders finally agreed to a proposal that would give him three additional weeks to crunch the numbers.

But, the Democratic leaders added a new wrinkle to the often byzantine budgeting process that has left Illinois government teetering on the edge of an $11 billion hole.

Now, instead of launching the budget-writing process after the governor’s speech on March 10, Democrats who control the House and Senate will require Quinn to post an online outline of the state’s financial details two weeks before he takes the stage on March 10.

The Senate Executive Committee approved the bill today.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 1:59 pm

Comments

That office needs to be and can be eliminated a lot sooner, Speaker Madigan.

Lawmakers should not have granted Quinn three more weeks. he’s trying to come up with a budget that helps him politically for November.

Illinois needs a more balanced government with fully functioning checks on power. Things usually work so much better when one party does not exclusively dominiate government.

Comment by Will County Woman Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 2:04 pm
===and can be eliminated a lot sooner===

Not sure about that. Candidates have already been nominated.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 2:05 pm
You know, they should kill many birds with one stone. Eliminate Comptroller, make those duties the job of Lt. Gov.

Have the Lt. Gov run with the Gov in primary as a team.

Comment by Pat collins Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 2:09 pm
So if I understand the bill, they’re requiring Quinn to write down this speech in advance?

Comment by Scooby Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 2:11 pm
If the office stays till 2015, anything mandate it must be fully funded and an actual functional office? I mean title and desk, does it have to get much more?

Comment by Cindy Lou Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 2:11 pm
Would MJM consider amending the amendment to combine Treasurer and Comptroller? That way the Dems can run on reform/smaller government. Despite the paltry budget savings, they can at least point to a cut that most people can agree is sensible and not a par for the course, insider deal.

Quinn should propose it if Madigan doesn’t.

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 2:11 pm
Good news for a change.

Comment by Brennan Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 2:13 pm
I actually forgot that we are in 2010, though I’ve been advocating for getting rid of the office in 4 years on the blog today.

ok…keep up the good work and carry on Speaker Madigan! now what about getting your House dems to sign on to Quinn’s income tax increase?

Comment by Will County Woman Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 2:14 pm
Treasurer and the Controller actually have work. If they don’t need as much funding then reduce it.

Comment by Brennan Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 2:15 pm
I thought there was a proposal a while back to combine treasurer and comptroller–Hynes and JBT supported it, as I recall. That, combined with the Lt. Gov. elimination, would be politically beneficial for Dems. Voters love to see politicians eliminate elective office, even though it really doesn’t save that much money.

Comment by winco Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 2:18 pm
47th ward,

quinn does that and it will be seen for what it is: stealing Hynes’ ideas, and serve to re-inforce why Hynes’ was the better choice between the two. whatever.

I’m guessing that last wednesday quinn wished he hadn’t gotten all crazy and jumped down Hynes’ throat when the two appeard on the WTTW candidate forum at which Hynes called once again rightly called for the elminiation of the lt. guv’s office?

Comment by Will County Woman Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 2:19 pm
I would rather have the Lt. Gov. run with the Gov. than eliminate the office. This way, if something happens to the Gov, the office is filled by someone form the same party.

Under Madigan’s amendment, a Republican Gov. could be replaced by a Democrat AG or vice-versa. This could raise conflict of interest concerns in an impeachment setting. It raises continuity concerns in all situations. A Lt. Gov. picked by the Gov. reduces all of those issues.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 2:20 pm
How about the next in line to replace a Governor would be the Senate Leader of the Governor’s own party?

Comment by washedmyhands Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 2:28 pm
If Democrats are serious about eliminating the office, then they should nominate a Cohen-replacement who pledges to resign as soon as the amendment passes, or as soon as they are sworn in, whichever comes first. As we learned from the Rod-ster, it’s not like someone could be appointed to replace them.

Comment by Concerned Observer Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 2:29 pm
If done right, a budget outline two weeks before presentation is a good way to soften up the ground and get some focus on how out of whack state finances are.

Quinn should start with a budget that is based on current revenue forecasts. Then let everybody howl to their GA members.

This is as far from November as you’re going to get. Lay it all out in real, hard numbers.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 2:30 pm
Pot, the office is a waste of space, time and money. It needs to be eliminated for the good of the state–it serves no real purpose!

to avoid the problem that you suggest, would having the governor’s chief of staff replace him or her (with the exception of a sitting governor being forced out due to corruption, in which case the AG would take over) be better? the chief of staff has all the institutional knowledge, or least we hope he/she does, to keep the office functioning. also the chief of staff is likely to be someone who already shares the gov’s policy and political views. but, let’s just say that a chief of staff would not be eligible to run as an “incumbent” to retain the governor’s office because technically they were never elected to the first place.

Comment by Will County Woman Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 2:31 pm
Pot: Your concerns are of course valid. But if a Governor does something impeachable, I don’t think the succession issues are going to stop it.

Some wanted Blago impeached prior to his arrest, but they knew Emil wouldn’t allow it - and that was with an LG of the same party. The issues about impeachment will exist no matter who is next in line. I actually think it may serve the people better if next in line is not of the same party by requirement. Forces the Governor to be mindful of the other party.

Comment by siriusly Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 2:31 pm
I don’t think the order of succession should be tied to party affiliation at all. The next in line should be a pre-designated statewide elected official regardless of party affiliation.

Lots of states have order of succession, no LG. Quinn should support this, but because he thinks he was a great LG he probably won’t.

Comment by siriusly Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 2:34 pm
Just use the AG or the Senate leader of the same party as a placeholder. Hold a new election to choose a successor. I’d prefer the senate leader over the AG.

Comment by Brennan Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 2:36 pm
rich as per your comment at 2 05 not sure about that as the ballot has not been certified. if not certified are you a candidate? if they move quick and abolish the office the office prior to certification of the ballot that might and i mean might withstand a challenge.

Comment by EIRE 17 Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 2:44 pm
===if they move quick and abolish the office===

The GA can’t pass a con amend on its own. The public has to ratify in November.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 2:46 pm
My understanding is that the preliminary discussion budget posted online was the Governor’s idea. Maybe it was not, but it will make for LOTS of traffic on this blog, and elsewhere in the Illinois governmental universe.

Comment by Captain Flume Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 3:06 pm
Wait! Wait! Put the Lt. Gov. in charge of regulating Cemeteries…then it wouldn’t be such a dead end job!!!

Comment by D.P. Gumby Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 3:13 pm
I know the amendment is all deletions, and not additions, but I think it would behoove the legislature (if they are taking this seriously), to make Sec of State next in line to succeed Governor.

It makes far more sense than Attorney General.

Comment by George Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 3:18 pm
Combining the Comptroller and Treasurer would be a bad idea, and probably wouldn’t save any money.

A system of financial checks and balances is a good idea.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 3:18 pm
There is an advantage to having separate offices for Comptroller and Treasurer.

The person that holds the money and cashes the checks is not the same person that writes them. This is Illinois, having that under one roof creates all sorts of opportunities for embezzlement.

Comment by John Bambenek Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 3:19 pm
Sounds like a fine idea to post financial data online…I ‘m really tired of dueling figures when it comes time to make cuts or other tough budget recommendations…hopefully all responsible parties will start with the same realities and no one gets to say, “those aren’t the figures I’m working with”…a bit of transparency comes to the IL budget? Who would of thunk it?! Kudos to Quinn in this if it was his idea…

Comment by Loop Lady Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 3:20 pm
BTW, I posted a few days ago on this blog that Madigan would pt a bill forth to abolish the office of LG with due haste…

Comment by Loop Lady Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 3:22 pm
Regardless of the constitutional provisions with respect to the office and its role, I don’t think the constitution assigns the office with staffing and funds.

Limit the appropriation to a salary equivalent to that of a legislative leader, and eliminate any funds for staffing. Subject the position to a travel per diem and state rate requirement for lodging, and subject all other expenditures to be reviewed and approved in advance by the Governor’s office, and deduct any approved funds from the Governor’s budget.

Comment by Quinn T. Sential Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 3:29 pm
“This is Illinois, having that under one roof creates all sorts of opportunities for embezzlement.”

Which is exactly what happened at least once before the two offices (treasurer and comptroller) were separated…. anyone out there remember Orville Hodge?

Comment by Secret Square Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 3:40 pm
The Lt. Gov. office can work as an arm of the governor’s office, but generally the 2 can’t stand each other. I think they should run as a team in the primary.

Az. lost Gov. Napolitano to Obama’s cabinet and the GOP Sec. of State became governor. She had no desire to be governor and really just wanted to be Sec. of State. Now, no one is happy with her.

So, I like having a LT. Gov., at least they would be of the same party.

Comment by PPHS Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 3:43 pm
So they move Lisa right up to #1 in the succession list. Nicely done!

Comment by Jeff Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 3:45 pm
I think this is going to be a very bad idea, but we don’t exactly have stellar people running for the office. Even if one did decide to take himself out of the race.

What was the logic of keeping the Lt. Gov office in 1970 if the officeholder had no official duties?

Comment by Levois Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 3:49 pm
It’s interesting that the house speaker has introduced a bill by which his daughter becomes next in line in the succession. And what do we make of the episode in which Ms. Madigan tried to have former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich declared insane or otherwise unfit for office? The AG next in line to the succession? Think about the conflicts of interest issues that arise from that.

Comment by elginite Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 3:52 pm
Scooby — “So if I understand the bill, they’re requiring Quinn to write down this speech in advance?”

And maybe even put some thought into it.

Comment by Pat Robertson Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 3:53 pm
*It’s interesting that the house speaker has introduced a bill by which his daughter becomes next in line in the succession.*

We need to stop this tinfoil hat stuff now. Really? That is Madigan’s motivation? His sneaky way of making his daughter governor?

Rich, can you install an Occam’s Razor filter on here before people are allowed to post?

Comment by Montrose Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 3:56 pm
Elginite - please remove tin foil hat. As Rich already taught the class: any constitutional amendment has to be ratified by the voters. You get to determine what happens. Guess what? Voters even get to elect the Attorney General!

Comment by siriusly Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 3:58 pm
The Attorney General is next-in-line as we speak.

If you’re going to wear a Tin Foil Hat, at least be consistent in your paranoia.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 4:15 pm
I don’t think you need a tinfoil hat to see the obvious. I kind of sort of think he’s sending a subtle signal to those in the party who blame the Speaker for Scott Lee Cohen. AG is a lifer position if the incumbent wishes it to be… And the Speaker is being responsive to his by proposing a reform…

It suggests the level of seriousness he takes their criticisms…

I’m a huge fan of Occam’s razor… but it is kind of funny to think about… Makes you go, “Heh.”

Comment by Greg B. Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 4:17 pm
a question - feel free to tell me I wear a tin foil hat for even asking it - will mike madigan’s committee pick a LG replacement who they think gives Quinn the best chance to win in November?

Comment by Robert Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 4:42 pm
Robert - the State Central Committee is made up of congressional district committeemen and committeewomen who are directly elected by the voters (they were just elected last week). They pick who they want.

If they want to listen to anyone’s input, I suggest they listen to Quinn. It’s his name on the ballot with this person to be named.

Comment by siriusly Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 4:45 pm
Robert - analytically speaking - to your point:
Quinn might want to choose an known legislator from the suburbs or downstate who may help him win a few votes, like Sen. Linda Holmes or Sen. Kotowski. Whereas Cullerton and Madigan may not like those people for their own reasons. Like I said, the SSC gets to vote - and they don’t have to do what he says.

Comment by siriusly Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 4:47 pm
The Secretary of State as next in line isn’t a bad idea either.

They could also include some language ending the Lt Governor position if it becomes vacant before the date the current language sets. Then we can all gang up on whoever is the Lt Governor after this election and badger them until they quit. Should only take a week.

Otherwise, I believe we legally/ethically have to wait until after the next term to get rid of the position.

How about Michael J. Madigan for Lt. Governor. Anybody else more prepared to step in for Quinn should something happen? Huh? Huh? And he’d get the honor of serving as Illinois’ last Lt. Governor. Its perfect. Draft Michael J. Madigan for Lt. Governor.

Comment by TaxMeMore Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 4:53 pm
The point of a Lt. Gov. is to have a Governor-in-Waiting, just like having a Vice President. Nether position has any crucial duties. If they run as a team from the get-go the Gov is much more likely to give the person something important to do. If you want the duties to be official, make the Lt. Gov. President of the Senate, Comptroller, head of the DNR or IDOT or Education or whatever. The AG and SOS are elected to be just that, and moving them up opens another vacancy.

WCW: Might just as well give the Lt. Gov the Chief of Staff duties and put the person on the ballot.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 4:58 pm
According to Huffington Post, Governor Quinn doesn’t want the Lt. Governor’s office to be elminiated.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/10/mike-madigan-house-speake_n_457499.html

Comment by Quinn still wants the Lt Gov ... Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 5:17 pm
Secret, all these youngsters out here might not know that Orville Hodge was a Republican State Auditor of Public Accounts (which had some of current Treas, Comp and Auditor General duties in old Constitution.) who embezzled State $$ while in office. He was the poster child for designing these offices as they are in the 1970 Constitution.

Hodge was quite a schemer. In addition to penny-ante check frauds and forgeries, he told the GA one year that his budget was exhausted; they gave him a $500k (roughly, I’m old) supplemental that essentially went right into his pocket. Spent the dough on real estate, Rolls’ and I think a couple of private aircraft.

Kinda like Stu Levine without the kinky stuff.

One is a good 20th century Illinois historian if they know who took Hodge’s place and what he did before he became State Auditor. (AA only knows because the dude was a famous fraternity brother.)

Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 5:17 pm
I don’t think an impulsive attempt to abolish the Lt Gov office makes sense. Maybe it’s a useless office as some commenters have stated. But, what happens when the next undesirable candidate wins a primary for AG, Comptroller, or Treasurer? Will Madigan seek to eliminate that office as well? If Lt Gov office should be eliminated it needs to be eliminated on the merits–that the position offers nothing to the functioning of state government. We should not play with the structure of our state government because one party and the media failed to vet a candidate. This seems so similar to the Dem Party in Mass when they changed the rules a couple of times to hold onto the US Senate seats. It came back to bit them. Similarly, Barney Frank wants to eliminate US Senate fillibuster rules b/c it gets in the Dem party’s way. When the rules don’t work for them, the Dem party wants to change the rules. See a pattern here?

Comment by Peggy SO-IL Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 5:35 pm
AA
You must mean the infamous LLoyd Morey!

Comment by Bill Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 6:22 pm
President of the U of I back when it was prestigious.

Comment by Bill Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 6:23 pm
The right wingization of the comment pool here is getting quite tiresome.

Comment by DuPage Dave Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 7:01 pm
an impulsive attempt to eliminate the lt gov office in five years.

I kinda like the idea of adding Kotowski to Quinn. I was trying to think of how Quinn could fare worse downstate.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 7:14 pm
DuPage Dave: But the right wingers do keep us entertained and focused on Black Helicopters, One World Government and their Death To Taxes rhetoric. LOL

Comment by Give Me A Break Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 7:19 pm
Creating an overnight change in party in the Governor’s office would be crazy. Currently, a change in party takes about 2 months to line up. Imagine doing it overnight? The new person would either have to keep the prior person’s folks for a while and be utterly dependent on people he/she couldn’t trust, or bring in totally new people very quickly, without time to prepare - a recipe for disaster. I know that’s potentially the situation now, with the LG position vacant, if the AG were of the other party, but why make it even more likely?

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 7:27 pm
I would respect Gov. Quinn for fighting against abolishment of his old job. Hopefully he doesn’t just cut and run from this fight.

Comment by Levois Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 8:10 pm
=== They could also include some language ending the Lt Governor position if it becomes vacant before the date the current language sets. ===

Not necessary. Under the current Illinois Constitution, if the Lt. Gov’s Office is vacated, it remains vacated.

What the Hell is wrong with Quinn?

How the heck does defending the Office of Lt. Gov. help him get re-elected?

Dear Pat:

Every breath you waste talking about anything besides your plans to create jobs and Bill Brady’s plans to ship American jobs overseas brings you one step closer to defeat.

Sincerely,

Tough Love

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 9:47 pm
Peggy -

As I mentioned, Lt. Gov. is the only Constitutional office that, once vacated, remains vacated.

I think that speaks volumes about its necessity.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 9:49 pm
==But, what happens when the next undesirable candidate wins a primary for AG, Comptroller, or Treasurer? Will Madigan seek to eliminate that office as well?==

Those offices all have very specific duties proscribed by the Constitution. Plus, the winners of those primaries have to stand on their own for election. They don’t have the luxury of riding the coattails of someone else into office.

Comment by Unnamed For Now Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 9:51 pm
For once I agree with the Speaker…the Lt Gov office has sat empty for over a year now so it’s clear we do not need it. It should be abolished, and there are a few other states without this office.

Comment by scoot Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 11:05 pm
Do note cards count as a budget outline? Fundamentally, Quinn is under no more stress today to draft a budget bill and speech than he was two weeks ago. To suggest he needs more time would also suggest that he is incapable of juggling public appearances for his campaign and managing the constitutional responsiblities of the office he was sworn to uphold. If the latter is the case, as I suspect it is, he’s basically crying for an extension because he had to take time away from him taxpayer supported job to campaign for the job he holds. It’s mind-numbing irony. Will a few weeks extension magically produce $13 bilion? No it won’t. It’s posturing and delaying the enevitable, enabled by a sympathic band of brothers.

Comment by dznuts Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 11:32 pm
dznuts, exactly! and what’s worse is he is getting a pass on it by the media and pundits. they’re running with the “transparency” angle just because he plans to put budget info online by feb 24th and acting like it’s the best thing ever.

Comment by Will County Woman Wednesday, Feb 10, 10 @ 11:46 pm
I agree with posting it online, assuming of course it’s legitimate and meaningful, which of course it won’t be. Quinn needs to continue to act gubernatorial instead of pretending like he just got the job and needs to assess the situation. Recess is over. Thanks for the support, Will County Woman! Just hope more people and the mainstream media will see this smokesreen for what it really is - more smoke and mirrors and no leadership.

Comment by dznuts Thursday, Feb 11, 10 @ 12:12 am
YDD, I agree with you that Quinn needs to focus on jobs big time for the general, but I don’t know that it benefits Quinn to agree with Madigan on the idea of eliminating the lite gov spot.

If Quinn himself says the lt. gov. office a is worthless office then doesn’t that open him up to the question what exactly he was doing to collect a paycheck the 6 years he was in there?

Also, somebody mentioned JBT and Hynes being for combining the office of comptroller and treasurer in the past. I noticed in that clip Rich posted the other day that JBT still feels the offices should be combined.

Comment by Hisgirlfriday Thursday, Feb 11, 10 @ 1:29 am
Way to go, Bill. I knew you would come through.

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Comment by Dave Thursday, Feb 11, 10 @ 6:52 am