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* Gov. Pat Quinn waxed defiant yesterday about his veto of the ComEd bill and his harsh words for the General Assembly…
“Part of the role of the governor sometimes is not to be a pal of the legislature,” Quinn said [yesterday] afternoon while addressing the Leadership Greater Chicago Luncheon at the Union League Club.
“I am very proud that I vetoed the ComEd bill. I read somewhere that I enraged the General Assembly when I did it. Well, so what? The governor is there to protect the consumers.”
The ICC is there to protect consumers. The governor is supposed to be there for all of Illinois. All of organized labor supported the smart grid legislative package. Major environmental organizations like the Sierra Club, Environment Illinois and the Natural Resources Defense Council backed it as well. From the Sierra Club’s blog…
This will be a huge boost to clean energy in Illinois. By deploying solar energy across Illinois, we’ll see new jobs and businesses, and cleaner air as we move away from dirty coal. A smarter power grid will also save consumers money by giving us new tools to manage our power consumption. […]
SB 1652 will increase the amount of energy savings we get through energy efficiency by about 1.5 million mWh, roughly the amount of power that would be used in 150,000 homes for one year. Further, it allows both utilities and non-utility energy efficiency companies to participate in the market, and ensures that the expanded efficiency programs are incorporated into the annual Illinois Power Agency procurement plans. […]
NEW JOBS: Up to 5,000 new jobs in renewable energy – good jobs installing clean energy projects, operating and maintain them, and manufacturing clean energy components. In addition, the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy estimates that the energy efficiency provision alone will create 3500 new jobs by 2015, and more than 10,000 new jobs by 2020. […]
CONSUMER SAVINGS: Helping consumers use less energy is a way to permanently reduce bills. The energy conservation programs in SB 1652 will not only provide new tools and products to help consumers cut their bills, they will also reduce the peak power prices that drive our electric rates. Smart meters will empower consumers to take charge of their energy consumption. Participants in smart meter pilot programs consistently save 15-20% per month after installing a smart meter.
CLEANER AIR: Cleaner power sources and energy conservation mean cleaner air – fewer asthma attacks, premature deaths, and a better future for our children and grandchildren. We also need the smart grid to move beyond oil, to power the electric vehicles of the future.
Despite what the governor says, this was not an “evil” bill. And the $3 a month from ComEd consumers and $3 a year from Ameren consumers probably won’t even be noticed on anybody’s bills.
…Adding… From Fox Chicago…
Fox Chicago News has learned that ComEd lobbyists are telling legislators who voted for a new rate increase law that the utility will seek less money than it previously wanted.
One reason: if Gov. Quinn signs a so-called trailer bill to the rate increase law, ComEd’s guaranteed annual profit will shrink by about 3 per cent.
* Back to the governor…
In declaring himself the “reform governor,” Quinn echoed Blagojevich, his two-time running mate. The then-lieutenant governor took over after Blagojevich was arrested on corruption charges and removed from office.
“I wasn’t elected prime minister by the legislature,” Blagojevich said in 2003, his first year in office. “I was elected governor of this state and I’m here to do my job with the mandate the people gave me — and I think they want me to change things here.”
The Blagojevich comparisons will undoubtedly increase in the coming weeks and months. But I still don’t think that’s quite fair. Quinn is not a criminal. The better comparison is to Dan Walker, Quinn’s role model and another failed governor who alienated everybody with his holier than thou positioning.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 9:51 am
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Pat Quinn, the pride of four Illinois counties.
Comment by Damfunny Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 9:57 am
Will we soon be seeing Quinn adopt a similar approach to Obama, taking executive action on items not passed into law by the legislature? Quinn’s right, he isn’t the Prime Minister of Illinois, but it’s sure good to be the king.
Comment by Cincinnatus Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 9:58 am
One does not have to be convicted to be a criminal.
Comment by Aristotle Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 9:59 am
- And the $3 a month from ComEd consumers and $3 a year from Ameren consumers probably won’t even be noticed on anybody’s bills. -
They used the same types of calculations to tell everyone they weren’t going to notice the end of the rate freeze. Just wait until interest rates for treasury bonds start to rise, these folks didn’t spend the kind of money they did to get peanuts in return.
Comment by Small Town Liberal Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 10:00 am
Brady would have been more conservative, but wouldn’t he have played nicer with cullerton and madigan?
Comment by shore Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 10:00 am
{Quinn is not a criminal.}
I didn’t realize the investigation was over already. When did it start?
Comment by Quinn T. Sential Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 10:01 am
–Despite what the governor says, this was not an “evil” bill. And the $3 a month from ComEd consumers and $3 a year from Ameren consumers probably won’t even be noticed on anybody’s bills. –
Did Quinn ever use the word “evil” to describe the bill?
As to your second point, I don’t find that a compelling enough reason to support anything. That extra money from consumers certainly will be noticed in the utilities quarterly earnings reports.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 10:02 am
I would venture to guess that most of your posters don’t remember the Walker administration that much (I was in second grade when he was elected). Granted, you are correct Rich when you say we shouldn’t compare the criminal with the inept, but that’s what we likely all remember.
Comment by tubbfan Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 10:06 am
–Will we soon be seeing Quinn adopt a similar approach to Obama, taking executive action on items not passed into law by the legislature?–
Apropos of nothing, in case anyone was wondering what the subject of the day is on talk radio.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 10:07 am
===the pride of four Illinois counties. ====
Yeah, and one of those counties has a population of well over 5 million. How many people live in your county?
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 10:07 am
While I oppose the Com Ed bill, I think Quinn is paving the way for his party to dump him in 2014 and nominate someone with a better chance of being elected.
Comment by reformer Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 10:11 am
The pride of four random shapes on a map that cover more than half of the states population beat out the pride of 100 random shapes on a map that cover more than half the state’s population of corn.
Comment by Ok Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 10:12 am
Not only is Pat Quinn slipping further and further into irrelevancy, but I also wonder how focused he and his staff are and if they actually understand the legislation and initiatives the GA propose. Quinn and his staff were in over their head when Blago was impeached and removed from office, and I don’t think they’ve ever pulled their heads above water.
Comment by Team Sleep Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 10:13 am
I’m not sure if Quinn would want the Walker comparison. He went to jail too.
Comment by Downstate Illinois Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 10:16 am
Dan Walker was at least bright and his fights with the GA were calculated gambles. Quinn is just not all that bright and his young staff are definitely in over their heads.
Comment by Cassiopeia Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 10:26 am
Why do I doubt that my monthly power bill will only go up $3 per month?
Comment by Aldyth Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 10:43 am
I am getting pretty tired of the “Quinn is not bright” nonsense. Anybody who knows him knows he has a formidable intellect. I may not always agree with his tactics (there’s an understatement) but he’s got IQ points to spare.
Comment by soccermom Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 10:44 am
Could someone aims us at when and where the legis asked PQ to be pals. Never happened. Atleast Blagoof had EMIL and Pumpkinhead to front for him
Comment by CicularFiringSquad Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 10:49 am
“===the pride of four Illinois counties. ====
Yeah, and one of those counties has a population of well over 5 million. How many people live in your county? ”
He’s hardly the pride of Cook, but did Brady (or any of his supporters) really think he was going to win in Cook with his positions on “social” issues, and NO firm plan for cutting spending *plus* cosidering borrowing $50b for pensions?
Brady botched his campaign into being a referendum on his posistions on “social” issues, which is a big loser in Cook County (see, eg, Tony Pereica). And now were stuck with Governor Peter Principle Quinn.
Comment by Chris Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 10:49 am
soccermom: Then why doesn’t he start showing his smarts? His actions don’t indicate that he is all that intelligent.
Comment by One of the 35 Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 10:51 am
I am getting pretty tired of the “Quinn is not bright” nonsense; he’s got IQ points to spare.}
Intellectual brilliance is wasted if it cannot be properly applied.
Quinn’s genius apparently is hidden in plain sight when he acts like an idiot.
Comment by Quinn T. Sential Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 10:55 am
Chris - are social issues that important to people in Cook County that they would rather vote for someone like Rod Blagojevich or Pat Quinn than JBT (who was most certainly NOT a social conservative) or Bill Brady? I’m not saying Bill Brady was a great candidate or would’ve even been a formidable executive. However, what did Pat Quinn show in his 1 1/2 years as governor that made people so willing to not even try out Bill Brady?
Comment by Team Sleep Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 10:56 am
And let me extend my previous post by noting that a Governor Brady would’ve never been able to push any of his social agenda through a GA controlled by Mike Madigan and John Cullerton. It just would’ve never happened.
Comment by Team Sleep Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 10:57 am
What actually did Brady campaign on? I don’t recall anything of substance.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 11:00 am
… What actually did Brady Campaign on? …
Cuts. Cut what? 10%. Cut where? Off the top.
I know. Stunning that type of clarity was rejected by voters.
Comment by Joe from Joliet Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 11:13 am
@ Wordslinger 11:00 am -
No snark intended - what I recall from the campaigns was basically just this:
Brady:
10% across the board cuts and revive govt “fumigation” legislation
Quinn:
income tax increase needed
That’s what I recall of the election as a slightly-more-than-casual observer, being honest.
Comment by Peter Snarker Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 11:13 am
===I don’t recall anything of substance. ===
Right to work, for one.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 11:14 am
A few points - first the bill ties the ICC’s hands by creating “formula’ rates. Second the ICC isn’t there to protect consumers - they are there to balance the interests. That’s why consumer groups intervene.
As for Labor, Sierra Club & NRDC - them selling out for the promise of jobs and some token “green” provisions certainly are not resounding examples of this bill being good for Illinois. Very telling that all the ‘consumer’ groups still oppose it.
As someone reference earlier you only have to look back at 2006 and the end of the “Electric Rate Freeze” to see it’s hard to trust the utilities numbers when profits are on the line.
Comment by SportShoz Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 11:21 am
I think I hear Dan Hynes starting to give notice to his private sector employer…Quinn is done, albiet by his own sanctimonius nature and the doofuses he appointed in so many positions.
Comment by Borealis Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 11:34 am
“And the $3 a month from ComEd consumers and $3 a year from Ameren consumers probably won’t even be noticed on anybody’s bills.”
Two things:
1. ComEd and Ameren could never justify their $3 per month charge with evidence.
2. People pay attention to property tax bills and electric bills. I’m guessing they will notice.
Comment by Lincoln's Penny Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 11:41 am
Yeap, win 4 of 102 counties, with a small fraction of a percent victory margin…and claim a “mandate”.
Comment by titan Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 11:46 am
SportShoz, that’s a great point. Government agencies aren’t just there to protect consumers - they are supposed to represent all entities impacted by legislation, executive orders and regulations that are enacted after the appropriate time passes. As we kind of discussed yesterday, both sides have ample opportunities to lobby the legislature, executive and bureaucratic branches of government while a bill or proposal is in front of the government body in question.
Lincoln’s Penny - even if ComEd and Ameren proved beyond a shadow of doubt that they needed the rate increase, their customers would still be upset. As I mentioned last week - a company can’t just wave a magic wand and automatically improve its infrastructure and, in the case of a major utility firm, its delivery system. I truly believe there is a general sense amongst the populous that bigger firms and corporations can just eat costs to please their customers.
Comment by Team Sleep Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 11:53 am
I love the sound and fury of the 98 County Romantics.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 11:58 am
@Team Sleep
They can justify the infrastructure needs and most people will agree its necessary. And most will agree that the customer ultimately will pay.
The rub comes in when their is little oversight in HOW the money is spent. The GA gave ComEd and Ameren the ability to spend 3 billion dollars and forgot to ask them how they were going to spend it.
Comment by Lincoln's Penny Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 12:02 pm
Gosh, Word — you send me down memory lane. The 98 County Romantics played at my prom…
Comment by soccermom Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 12:31 pm
Yeah, I’ll take the quiet confidence of the Quad County Quads over the sound and fury of the 98 County Romantics everytime. They got it right the last 3 elections…….no, wait a minute. Never mind
Comment by dupage dan Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 12:50 pm
It isn’t the $3/month that people will notice…it’s the $3/month ON TOP of all the other increases that folks are seeing these days. For those who are on fixed incomes, unemployed, facing decreasing pay checks, this is just another “small” increase on top of the increases for other basic needs like food, drugs, and fuel. $3 might not be a lot of money for you, but it is for a lot of people out there.
Comment by The KQ Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 12:52 pm
KQ, bills go up and down with the months. I really doubt that most will notice.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 1:04 pm
Speaking of Gov. Walker, when can we have another Gov. Ogilvie?
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 2:05 pm
===a company can’t just wave a magic wand and automatically improve its infrastructure and, in the case of a major utility firm, its delivery system. I truly believe there is a general sense amongst the populous that bigger firms and corporations can just eat costs to please their customers===
Those two statements are not as closely tied as you make it out. Put together you seem to imply large corporations taking on some additional cost out of their own profit margins is impossible. Yes people may overestimate large corporations ability to do this but it is not as though SB1652 did not assume the reverse is true of consumers. It’s pretty fair to say the general consumer does not believe that they are able to absorb the cost either. The difference is maintenance and upkeep was never the responsibility of the consumer. And those consumers wonder why ComEd and Ameren did not invest in this before. And it completely off the wall to say (not that you did) there was no other venue to pursue improvements in infrastructure over the past several years. Sure ComEd may not like living within the rate structure they had, but generally they got most of what they asked for from the ICC. I didn’t like paying what I did for replacing my roof this year but my employer didn’t give me a salary bump to do it. And if I chose not to replace my roof for the next decade and came back to my employer saying you didn’t give me enough for infrastructure improvments my complaints would fall on deaf ears.
Comment by Dave V Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 3:48 pm
OGILVIE…OOOOOGILVIE
Comment by Bill Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 6:27 pm
Re: “when can we have another Gov. Ogilvie?”
Another moderate responsible pragmatic Republican? To ask the question is to answer it.
Comment by jake Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 9:56 pm