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Proposal to eliminate lite guv fails in Senate

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Illinois

* AP…

The [constitutional] amendment by Democratic Sen. Tom Cullerton of Villa Park to eliminate the office of lieutenant governor failed 21-28. Cullerton says it would save the state $1.6 million annually.

Critics say the lieutenant governor has little to do except stand by to succeed the governor if the top post goes vacant. Two lieutenant governors in the past 35 years have resigned for different jobs, and former Gov. Pat Quinn, when he took over for the impeached and ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich in 2009, did not fill the post until 2011.

But Republicans criticized Cullerton’s idea, saying succession would fall to the attorney general — and that post could be occupied, as it is now, by a member of the opposite party.

* Tribune editorial…

Some Senate Democrats voted down the amendment, too, but the hypocrisy among Republicans — the party of so-called fiscal conservatives who advocate for smaller, more efficient government — was starker. Instead of putting the measure on the ballot for voters to decide, they swooped in and blocked it.

Even richer, 14 Senate Republicans who helped kill the proposal were co-sponsors of the same legislation in 2013.

Their issue this time around? Who would step in if the governor died or became unable to serve. That’s the primary role of the lieutenant governor. The proposal for a constitutional amendment, sponsored by Sen. Tom Cullerton, D-Villa Park, would tap the attorney general for that role. Same as the 2013 bill that many Republicans co-sponsored. […]

We’re told the directive to vote “no” came from Gov. Bruce Rauner, who ran for office on a platform of government consolidation, not political gamesmanship. His own hand-picked lieutenant governor, Evelyn Sanguinetti, advocated recently for the elimination of her own office. Not long ago, she finished a lengthy report, at Rauner’s direction, on how local governments could get rid of unnecessary layers of government. How voters could be empowered to cut bureaucracy.

They’re right, but this little thing is the issue they finally throw down on?

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Apr 22, 16 @ 9:06 am

Comments

If Lieutenant Governor Sanguinetti feels so strongly about it, she could resign and leave the post open. Not a permanent fix, but it would provide some immediate savings.

Comment by SAP Friday, Apr 22, 16 @ 9:12 am
I’m in full support of eliminating the LG office (and consolidating the comptroller and treasurers offices) but I think succession should fall to the Secretary of State, an office that already oversees a number of state agencies and departments.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Apr 22, 16 @ 9:12 am
If the line of succession would go from the Lt. Gov to instead the AG… Evelyn or Lisa… maybe we should just skip that and make it the SOS the next line of succession….

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Friday, Apr 22, 16 @ 9:15 am
Another interim-option that nobody ever raises is keeping the office, but stripping most of the office’s funding. No policy staff, no constituent services staff, etc. Maybe give the Lt. Gov. one staff person. If Sanguinetti is truly in favor of eliminating the office, she could set an example by not staffing her office.

Comment by Just Observing Friday, Apr 22, 16 @ 9:17 am
My one reservation of eliminating the office is that it dashes my already million-in-one chance to ever become Lt. Gov. — the greatest political position ever — great title, no responsibility, just be an advocate for whatever you want.

Comment by Just Observing Friday, Apr 22, 16 @ 9:19 am
There are a number of minor, yet named responsibilities in various laws that require the LT Gov. to either chair or hold meetings with appointed groups or commissions, so eliminating the position will need to assign those functions as well…not a large task, but one none the less.

Comment by Captain Illini Friday, Apr 22, 16 @ 9:28 am
“this little thing is the issue they finally throw down on?”

Drip…

Drip…

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Friday, Apr 22, 16 @ 9:39 am
Republicans/Dems are against cutting bureaucracy when it affects their party.

Has the Attorney General always been third in line to take over the governor’s office?

Isn’t the U.S. Speaker of the House third in line to take over the presidency in the event the president and vice are unable to fulfill their duties?

Comment by Mama Friday, Apr 22, 16 @ 9:43 am
They propose this bill right as the LT Gov office has been tasked with eliminating and consolidating some of the over 7k layers of government in IL? Of course Repubs don’t want her office eliminated right now… they are the only ones trying to eliminate wasteful overlap in the state right now. Plus… the LT Gov office has like 6 people… is that really going to save money?

Comment by JustRight Friday, Apr 22, 16 @ 9:43 am
Ferro and Dold must both be out of town. There could be trouble for the editorial writer when they get back. /snark

Comment by Keyrock Friday, Apr 22, 16 @ 9:44 am
==Has the Attorney General always been third in line to take over the governor’s office?== Yes.

==Isn’t the U.S. Speaker of the House third in line to take over the presidency in the event the president and vice are unable to fulfill their duties? == In the federal government the Attorney General is not elected by anyone, he or she is an appointee of the President. In Illinois the Attorney General is elected statewide and is considered the second-highest office in Illinois government.

Comment by SAP Friday, Apr 22, 16 @ 9:48 am
So why did 14 GOP senators change their minds since 2013? Unless they all had a genuine conversion about the value of the lt gov office, it makes them look like toadies who simply follow orders.

Comment by anon Friday, Apr 22, 16 @ 9:58 am
Good day for ole Slip and Sue, not unlike winning her PI case…

But, she wants to be “unhired” until…

Crazy turn of events this bill went through….

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Apr 22, 16 @ 10:06 am
- SAP - Friday, Apr 22, 16 @ 9:48 am:

Thanks

Comment by Mama Friday, Apr 22, 16 @ 10:14 am
Doesn’t seem to be on anyone else’s mind but this succession thing could encourage bad people to do bad things to the governor when the att gen is from the other party.

Comment by m Friday, Apr 22, 16 @ 10:32 am
Just because some Governors have failed to have or to make a competent and useful Lt Gov, is no reason to remove that opportunity in the future.

The role could be valuable, if we make it so.

Comment by walker Friday, Apr 22, 16 @ 11:24 am
Well, the House GOP showed a little independence from Rauner by casting a meaningless vote on HJRCA 5, the House amendment to abolish the Lt. Gov. Oh wait, it was meaningless so I guess this show of independence is not so significant.

Comment by Norseman Friday, Apr 22, 16 @ 11:27 am
When our beloved Treasurer passed away, succession sure created a stir of a partisan nature, didn’t it?
It’s worth considering. I could easily agree with Walk and suggest the office have more responsibility. I could just as easily agree with limiting the funding of the office to the bare minimum with succession being the only purpose for it.

Comment by A guy Friday, Apr 22, 16 @ 1:47 pm
Maybe Governor’s should appoint the AG anyway, so you don’t end up with the current scenario where the AG is hostile to the Governor’s agenda.

Comment by Political Animal Friday, Apr 22, 16 @ 3:44 pm