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* UPDATED x1 - Empty gesture * Quinn’s last acts

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* If you were watching the live coverage feed earlier today, you saw that now former Gov. Pat Quinn was a busy little bee this morning, right up until moments before Gov. Bruce Rauner finished his oath of office.

Here are his bill signings and his two amendatory vetoes…

Bill No.: SB 3028
An Act Concerning: Regulation
Clarifies certain provisions of the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act.
Action: Signed
Effective: Immediately

Bill No.: SB 2774
An Act Concerning: Regulation
Creates standards for ride-hailing insurance coverage, driver requirements, non-discrimination, safety and operations.
Action: Signed
Effective: June 1, 2015

Bill No.: SB 2774
An Act Concerning: Regulation
Creates standards for ride-hailing insurance coverage, driver requirements, non-discrimination, safety and operations.
Action: Signed
Effective: June 1, 2015

Bill No.: HB 3707
An Act Concerning: Local Government
Amends a provision of the Township Code.
Action: Signed
Effective: Immediately

Bill No.: HB 3817
An Act Concerning: Elections
Makes changes regarding candidate filing for elected school district offices.
Action: Amendatory Vetoed
Effective: Immediately

Bill No.: SB 3397
An Act Concerning: Revenue
Allows retailers to receive sales tax deductions and refunds for uncollectible sales taxes.
Action: Amendatory Vetoed
Effective: Immediately

His AV messages are here and here.

*** UPDATE *** Quinn’s AV of HB 3817 contains this language mandating binding referenda for minimum wage hikes…

However, this is a House bill, and I’m told the House has no plans yet to meet before the new GA is sworn in on Wednesday. So, it’s basically an empty gesture because this bill dies without legislative action.

[ *** End Of Update *** ]

* He also took clemency action…

Governor Pat Quinn today granted 43 and denied 119 clemency petitions. As part of today’s final grants, Governor Quinn granted four immediate commutations, reduced the sentences of two other petitioners and granted his second pardon based on innocence.

The 162 clemency petitions acted upon today by Governor Quinn are part of dockets dating back to 2003. Each person granted clemency has recently undergone a criminal background check through the Illinois State Police’s Law Enforcement Agencies Data System (LEADS).

* And then there was this…

Minutes before Bruce Rauner was sworn in as governor, Governor Pat Quinn released 102 new appointees to state boards and commissions.

Filed with the Secretary of State’s office on Sunday, January 11, Quinn’s appointments (lists are here and here) cover a wide swath of mostly low-profile, unpaid state panels with varying degrees of policy making authority and most that need no Illinois Senate confirmation.

Quinn appointed people to the newly created Medical Cannabis Advisory Board, the Illinois Arts Council, the Illinois Single Audit Commission, America’s Central Port District, the Illinois Medical District Commission, the State Board of Pharmacy, the Elevator Safety Review Board, etc.
Quinn did appoint a former top aide, Sean Vinck, the Chief Information Officer, to a seat on the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation Board, which will pay Vinck $20,000 per year. No Senate confirmation is needed.

The now ex-governor did appoint several individuals to posts that require Senate confirmation and a couple that pay hefty salaries.

Quinn tapped ex-State Rep. Kim du Buclet (D-Chicago) to the Chicago State University Board of Trustees and ex-Department of Human Services Secretary Michelle Saddler to the Teachers Retirement System Board, replacing Patrick Gibbs. Both need Senate confirmation.

Quinn installed Tumia Romero at the Illinois Prison Review Board, a part-time job that pays $85,886 and for a term that lasts until January 21, 2019 – after Rauner’s first term. He also tapped Ilonka Ulrich of Skokie for a seat on the Illinois Workers Compensation Commission, which brings a $115,840 annual salary. These appointment also require Senate confirmation.

Finally, Quinn added ex-Governor Jim Thompson and ex-State Board of Education Commission Chairman Gary Chico to the 25-member State Bicentennial Commission.

* Under law, appointees who have to be confirmed by the Senate are considered late term appointments…

“Late term appointee” means a person who is appointed to an office by a Governor who does not succeed himself or herself as Governor, whose appointment requires the advice and consent of the Senate, and whose appointment is confirmed by the Senate 90 or fewer days before the end of the appointing Governor’s term.

And that means this…

A late term appointee shall serve no longer than the sixtieth day of the term of office of the succeeding Governor.

So, most of those folks listed above (except for Vinck and a few others) are out soon.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 1:51 pm

Comments

Swell guy, that Pat Quinn

Comment by anon Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 1:55 pm
Seems like a cruel Quinn joke on those folks requiring Senate confirmation. As Rich points out, these are DOA. What a (euphemism for a stubborn animal).

Comment by Norseman Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 1:58 pm
Once a patronage chief, always a patronage chief.

To the bitter end.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 1:59 pm
So most of these appointments are nothing but resume boosters? Nothing for Burris’s mausoleum?

Comment by Casual Observer Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 1:59 pm
“Quinn’s Last Acts”

Thankfully.

And in true Quinn form;

They are rash, hollow, and have no standing after awhile.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 2:01 pm
He is gonna be oh so sad when he wakes up tomorrow and can’t do this anymore.

Comment by Very Fed Up Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 2:02 pm
As I’ve told my many Republican friends the state is still very blue…careful what you scream out about because in 4 years you may need an outgoing governor to do the same for you.

Comment by Downstate GOP Faithless Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 2:03 pm
Umm… those AV’s are pretty hilarious:

Quinn just attempted to increase the EITC and put a binding min wage referendum on the municipal elections ballot - through AVs!

Quite amusing.

Comment by dave Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 2:03 pm
As someone who used to respect PQ, I am disappointed.

Comment by Plutocrat03 Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 2:04 pm
Seeing as ==most that need no Illinois Senate confirmation==, most of these 102 appointees will apparently be staying much longer than 60 days.

I guess now we know what was meant by ==he’ll be working and finishing up his work as governor== instead of attending the Inauguration in Springfield.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 2:05 pm
Raunerbots, please check your posts on this thread in 4 or 8 years before you open your digital traps then.

Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 2:06 pm
That is why it could have paid off to be near the phone today…

Comment by OneMan Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 2:06 pm
Real question that hopefully someone can provide an answer…

What about those who Quinn appointed over the last year that were never confirmed by the Senate? Do they stay in their positions? I know there was quite a backlog for some boards.

Comment by Just wondering Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 2:06 pm
None of this needed to be done at the last minute. This is just an immature attempt to take attention away from Rauner on his inauguration day. Transparently childish and petulant.

Comment by The Captain Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 2:06 pm
HE GONE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comment by Not Rich Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 2:07 pm
Plutocrato3- His appointment of the fenwick mafia to positions and this act of random patronage further show why he had to go. To think that the Sun-times actually thanked him for the decades of service. What mullarky! Good-bye Patsie Quinn. See ya!!!

Comment by Hon I.G Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 2:08 pm
If any of these appointments are confirmed by the Senate, after Rauner’s term begins, they avoid becoming a “late term appointee” and are not subject to the expiring term. The key phrase is “confirmed by the Senate 90 or fewer days before the end of the appointing Governor’s term.” One has to be cofirmed before the end of the term to become a “late term appointee”.

Of course, Rauner is able to and should pull those unconfirmed appointment messages that carry over to the new GA before the Senate can confirm.

Comment by Dirt Diver Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 2:09 pm
Couldn’t find my name anywhere. Knew I should have called him!

Comment by walker Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 2:11 pm
I’m sure that Quinn’s clemency actions don’t affect anyone who frequents this blog, but to those people and their families that ain’t nothing.

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM (@MisterJayEm) Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 2:15 pm
==None of this needed to be done at the last minute. This is just an immature attempt to take attention away from Rauner on his inauguration day. Transparently childish and petulant.==

This.

Comment by Anonymoiis Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 2:15 pm
…And now for something completely different…

Comment by Big Muddy Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 2:17 pm
Did see Ms. Madigan and Ms. Cullerton were appointed/reappointed - good to see no hard feelings. And he appointed Jim Thompson and Ed Burke to the State’s Bicentennial Commission.

Comment by Bogey Golfer Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 2:18 pm
@OneMan the psychic, earlier this morning

== Almost makes you wonder what he is going to do in his last 5 minutes as governor… == https://capitolfax.com/2015/01/12/quinn-will-be-a-no-show-at-noon/#comment-11779084

Comment by Formerly Known As... Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 2:21 pm
I wonder what type of person Quinn appointed to Chicago State University? That poor campus has been a patronage pit and an embarrassment to higher education in Illinois for a long time. Quinn turned a blind eye to corruption at CSU because some of his allies were on the board and they had delivered votes for him in 2010.

Comment by Under Further Review Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 2:21 pm
So, it’s basically an empty gesture

And that is how we end the Quinn Administration…

Comment by OneMan Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 2:22 pm
The last 10 minutes of the Quinn Administration…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ep-xgd_eETE

Comment by OneMan Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 2:25 pm
A perfectly pathetic ending to a perfectly pathetic public service career by a perfectly pathetic person.

Comment by DuPage Moderate Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 2:25 pm
=== However, this is a House bill, and I’m told the House has no plans yet to meet before the new GA is sworn in on Wednesday. So, it’s basically an empty gesture because this bill dies without legislative action. ===

I’m embarrassed that I don’t know the answer to this, but I thought a succeeding General Assembly could act on a veto from the previous General Assembly.

Comment by Norseman Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 2:26 pm
One Man - I was by my phone all morning. Nada.

Comment by Soccermom Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 2:27 pm
Soccermom…

That makes two of us….

Comment by OneMan Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 2:29 pm
Does anyone know where the list of those granted clemency or commutation can be found?

Comment by Stuff Happens Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 2:40 pm
If this were Bruce’s last day, and he was going back to managing the hot dog stand with Tiffany next door to their trailer park…and he appointed Sarah Palin as Comptroller for Life…Republicans would be applauding him.

Comment by Del Clinkton Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 2:40 pm
Pat Quinn = Jimmy Carter writ small

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 2:41 pm
I was waiting for an answer to the letter I sent him, in 2009.

Comment by Anon III Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 2:47 pm
If this were Bruce’s last day, and he was going back to managing the hot dog stand with Tiffany next door to their trailer park…and he appointed Sarah Palin as Comptroller for Life…Republicans would be applauding him

Yes, because Illinois Republicans just love Sarah Palin….

Not sure about the hot dog stand thing, but yeah he is governor now, so let your rage out… I understand, I felt the same way when Rod was elected….

Just let it out…

Comment by OneMan Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 2:53 pm
So much for any hopes of running for Senate as a reformer or as the bumbling gadfly who means well. The prior two months have done more to reveal his true self than the prior two decades combined.

Fare thee well, Mr Quinn.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 3:00 pm
There’s real symmetry here. He started his career as a patronage stooge, and finished it that way.

Im Pace Requiescat, Governor.

Comment by Arizona Bob Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 3:13 pm
Thank you, Governor Quinn. You worked for the people of Illinois right up until your last moments in the office to which they elected you. You have served this state well and history will look kindly upon your years of public service.

Comment by Snucka Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 3:19 pm
any links to the MW executive order?

Comment by Get it together Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 3:22 pm
Quinn the reformer!!!

Comment by Joe Blow Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 4:04 pm
Clueless and incompetent till the end.

1 the AV has nothing to do withthe issue, and Madigan would have ruled it out of order. Trying to ride this horse till the very end, he looks like Dudley Dooright — backwards on his horse.

Good riddance.

With the other thread it came to me that Quinn was often fond of saying let the will of the people be the law of the land, well thats’ what happened in November. Guess he doesn’t much care for the will of the people, when it doesn;t suit him.

Comment by Todd Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 4:09 pm
Don’t forget that for some of these appointees, their pension is based on their last salary. So if these people work one day at their new salary, they may have just gotten a huge pension boost.

Remember when Blago appointed Kurt Granberg to run IDNR, and even though the GA did not confirm him and he only worked a month, he got a huge pension bump.

Comment by Stooges Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 4:16 pm
From a guy who used to attend all the funerals of Illinois military people killed in action to this, it’s a true case of from the sublime to the ridiculous.

But considering the $20 Million Bribery Slush Fund the new Gov has set up, I don’t think we’re in for anything better, folks.

Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 4:19 pm
Quinn was last seen heading out of the Thompson building throwing peppermints to all around out of a large sack with a dollar sign on the side of it.

Comment by Homer J. Simpson Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 4:25 pm
Another parting shot???
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=1505&GAID=12&GA=98&DocTypeID=EO&LegID=83477&SessionID=85

Comment by Poster Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 4:33 pm
Do the pardons/clemencies get released as well?

Comment by OurMagician Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 4:33 pm
“Thank God and Greyhound You’re Gone”….Roy Clark

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 5:03 pm
Did anyone notice how few of these were from South of I-80?

Comment by illini Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 5:15 pm
==Did anyone notice how few of these were from South of I-80?==

Because politicos south of I-80 were always with Quinn!

Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 5:20 pm
Todd, happy now?

When you say “clueless and incompetent to the end,” are you talking about the NRA and ISRA who had to dummy up and go on the shelf to let MJM and Cullerton pass the CC you could never deliver, for years? Many years? Many, many, years?

You sure did raise a lot of money during those years of failure that paid some salaries, like yours.

What’s the new gun-victim-failure model for separating money from the schmucks these days?

Comment by Wordslinger Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 5:38 pm
Busy doing last minute “work”.

“Quinn commuted the 40-year sentence of Howard Morgan, who was convicted of shooting at four Chicago police officers during an early morning traffic stop in 2005 in the Lawndale neighborhood. Morgan, who was a Chicago police officer before becoming a railroad cop, claimed he was the victim of overzealous officers. But police said Morgan fired at them first, and testimony indicated he fired 17 times, while he was hit more than two dozen times.”.

Comment by Weltschmerz Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 6:08 pm
== Do the pardons/clemencies get released as well? ==

Yes, but not until after the individuals or their families have been notified of the action taken on their petition. That could take a couple of days.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 6:12 pm
== Clueless and incompetent till the end ==

Or just weak and petty ==actions==?

Six of one, half dozen of the other?

Comment by Formerly Known As... Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 6:17 pm
Two of the 3 executive orders issued by Quinn shows how petty this jerk got at the end. Ordering agencies to require $10 minimum wage is bad enough. Another requires the Governor to file annual income tax with the SOS.

Good riddance to this jerk.

Comment by Norseman Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 6:53 pm
The AV of SB 3397 is the outgoing administration in a nutshell — it increases the earned income tax credit, but also manages to allow zero credit for 2015. And, of course, has no chance of becoming law. Attention to detail and the mastery of the mechanics of the job were in short supply.

Comment by Anon. Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 8:10 pm
Word –

The story behind Carry in long, sordid and complicated. The two between Quinn time in office and RTC are not the same.

You can continue to speculate at the gun guys. My comments were about Quinn and tilting at windmills. try to stay on topic

Comment by Todd Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 8:25 pm
=== Quinn also issued an executive order directing the state to make data sets from state agencies accessible to the public through a single Web portal. ===

The agencies have been doing this for 3 years. Quinn is looking for another PR pop.

Comment by Norseman Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 8:33 pm
Vinck interned at the Heritage Foundation and used to be a rabid Republican.

Comment by Interns Monday, Jan 12, 15 @ 9:31 pm
A petty, small man.

“In an eleventh-hour flurry Monday in Chicago, Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn signed a few final bills into law, appointed friends to ceremonial posts and laid a series of political traps for incoming Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner.”. Chicago Tribune

Comment by Weltschmerz Tuesday, Jan 13, 15 @ 6:22 am
Quinn commuted the 40-year sentence of Howard Morgan, who was convicted of shooting at four Chicago police officers during an early morning traffic stop in 2005 in the Lawndale neighborhood.

Quinn’s last parting shot to Law Enforcement! I always knew that he was a POS, and this proves it!

Comment by What is to be done? Tuesday, Jan 13, 15 @ 8:19 am
http://blog.humanesociety.org/wayne/2015/01/illinois-bobcat-hunting-veto.html

Comment by Illinois Manufacturer Tuesday, Jan 13, 15 @ 9:15 am
==- What is to be done? - Tuesday, Jan 13, 15 @ 8:19 am:==

Defend a racist railroading at any cost. You must be head of FOP.

Comment by Precinct Captain Tuesday, Jan 13, 15 @ 11:52 am