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* Check out the wording in this press release…
The following statement is from Treasurer-elect Mike Frerichs regarding the announced appointment of Leslie Munger to the office of Comptroller:
“I called Leslie Munger last night to congratulate her, and I thank Governor-elect Rauner for selecting someone committed to eliminating the comptroller’s office.
Shortly before her passing, Judy Baar Topinka told me she was looking forward to working with me to combine the comptroller’s office with the state treasurer’s office. I am committed to keeping my promise to her to do just that.
I hope we can eliminate the comptroller’s office at the next election in 2016. By eliminating the comptroller’s office immediately at the next election, rather than waiting until 2018, we can save the taxpayers an additional $24 million.
I hope to meet soon with both Governor-elect Rauner and Leslie Munger to discuss eliminating the comptroller’s office sooner rather than later. In the meantime, I am confident that we can work together to eliminate as many redundancies as quickly as possible.”
Notice, he doesn’t say the two offices should be combined and a new person elected to fill that office. Instead, he wants the comptroller’s office eliminated so that he can then take over its duties.
Interesting twist.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 10:48 am
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@FakeRutherfordDan - careful there, @FakeMikeFrerichs, making stuff for yourself to launch from that office can come back to bite you #EliminateYourOwnFuture
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 10:51 am
I first of many future head scratchers by Frerichs.
I say we put the combination on the ballot in 16 and also have an election for the position if it passes. Same thing happens in counties that are required to elect an auditor for the first time.
Comment by Lionel R Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 10:51 am
===first of many future head scratchers by Frerichs===
Actually, it’s politically clever. Not sure why you’re scratching your head.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 10:57 am
I don’t see how it’s so odd. It’s two offices going down to one. I don’t expect either Frerichs or Munger to say that they’re the one who should be left out in the cold.
Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 10:58 am
Hey Mike, King Madigan called and he needs his driveway scooped!! Get on it!!
Comment by Downstate Greg Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 11:01 am
Left unsaid . . .
=== I called Leslie Munger last night to congratulate her [and she asked me if I could to pass along her phone number to Governor-elect] ===
Comment by Bill White Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 11:01 am
In terms of responsibilties, the Comptroller’s Office is much more substantive and important to the functions of state government than the Treasurer’s Office.
Comment by Tail Wags Dog Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 11:02 am
That is an interesting twist.
I strongly like Public Servant’s suggestion yesterday to put both the new Comptroller and combining offices on the ballot together in 2016. I strongly dislike the idea of Frerichs absorbing the power of both offices.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 11:05 am
Of course he does!
LOL - it’s always politics in Illinois!
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 11:06 am
I don’t think you can say as many Dems are saying Special election for the remainder of the term in 2016 and then rush to close it in 2016? I don’t like the idea of a constitutional position being closed mid term period…. That is not a precedent that should be set. Least of which for that high of an office… The budget can keep the office open until 2018.
Comment by Walter Mitty Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 11:07 am
From Munger’s release yesterday:
“I’m not interested in a political career; only on doing what is best for the state we all love and want to make great again,” Munger added. “With that in mind, I will relentlessly advocate that the General Assembly put a Constitutional amendment on the 2016 ballot to merge the Comptroller’s office with the Treasurer’s office. That’s what Judy wanted, and the people deserve the opportunity to vote on it. I would look forward to helping eliminate the very office to which I was appointed.”
Sounds like they agree.
The only question is whether to merge the comptroller’s office with the treasurer’s office, thereby eliminating it, in 2016 or 2018.
Comment by Juvenal Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 11:12 am
Nice try Frerichs. Fortunately, the Rauner folks are much smarter than your press release.
Comment by buckle up Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 11:12 am
No Constitutional Office will actually be closed by 2016, under any scenario.
In Dreamland: both Constitutional Officers would be working toward eventual consolidation, without partisanship or personal ambition. They would work together to plan how it could safely be done, and propose how much could be saved with an agreed scenario. That would inform the voters, who eventually must make the decisions.
(The “$24M” save is BS; it just keeps growing with the telling by both sides.)
Not holding my breath waiting on the “I am not a politician” folks.
Comment by walker Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 11:15 am
Walter Mitty - your comment makes sense to me and others I have spoken to. If the public votes in 2016 to combine offices, then you have an election for the combined position in 2018.
Eliminating a constitutional office mid-term, instead of allowing time for a transition, creates unnecessary difficulties regardless of whether a D or an R wins that special election for Comptroller.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 11:16 am
Well now…there’s half of a good loaf. If it’s possible, it’s very clever and worth considering.
Now, Mr. Treasurer, put the rest of the loaf out there and all your chips on the table and pledge to stand for Re-election to a new office for a two year term, followed by a full one.
Then, sir, you’ve got me on board. Until then, it’s a clever posture that only goes half way.
Comment by A guy Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 11:24 am
=== Nice try Frerichs. Fortunately, the Rauner folks are much smarter than your press release. ===
If they act before Monday, I believe the IL House, the IL Senate and the Governor could work together enact legislation for a referendum to merge the Comptroller’s office into the Treasurer’s office to be voted on at the November 2016 election, to be effective January 1, 2017.
If they choose to do this, there would be nothing the Governor-elect could do to stop it.
Comment by Bill White Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 11:25 am
If you don’t view this through a partisan lens, doesn’t it make sense to merge the office where the current officeholder was never elected into the office where the current officeholder was elected? What’s the non-partisan reason to oppose that simple solution?
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 11:31 am
FKA…Thanks… The one thing I don’t like on a pure emotional basis…Don’t say Judy’s wishes and then rush in 2016…I don’t think she would resign her office mid term…I believe she would be thoughtful and ask the voters in 2018…That just rubbed me wrong…
Comment by Walter Mitty Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 11:34 am
LOL. Just like consolidating schools. The first thing you have to address is employment of both superintendents.
Comment by Out Here In The Middle Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 11:38 am
If we’re all going to dream about removing constitutional offices and their coveted patronage jobs, then let’s add the useless office of the Lieutenant Governor to the list.
Comment by 2 Cents... Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 11:43 am
One of the reasons that it’s easy for Frerich and Munger to advocate consolidating offices is that they know there’s absolutely no chance of that occurring unless MJM wants it to. Topinka and Rutherford advocated this position when they ran in 2010 and nothing happened. The issue begins and ends with Madigan. He has no interest in relinquishing a state wide office that could easily swing to the “D” side in a couple of years. When he starts advancing this idea I’ll take it seriously. Until then it’s just fodder.
Comment by pundent Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 11:47 am
The treasurer’s office, on Jan 12, will become a satellite office for Frierichs’ 2016 gubernatorial bid. He has already secured the services of a paid JJC political consultant, who is currently Director of a state agency. Get ready!!
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 11:49 am
Leslie Munger will ultimately end up as the executive director of the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority anyway, so who cares if she only serves 2 years as comptroller.
Comment by PublicServant Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 11:52 am
Frerichs is absolutely shameless. From his early days in Champaign County, he has been ruthless in his ambition to advance. He will make Rutherford look like a piker when it comes to his endless and banal use of social media to promote himself.
The idea that the State of Illinois could vote on merging the offices in November of 2016 and smoothly transition into one office in January of 2017 is preposterous to those living in the real world. Government just doesn’t work that way, and Mr. Frerichs knows it.
Comment by LincolnLounger Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 11:56 am
We can argue forever, but in the end the controllers office should be abolished.
That should be the start of eliminating
at least a 1000 more useless offices.
Comment by Mokenavince Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 12:04 pm
How did Frerichs get ahold of her?The Tribbies wrote that “she was traveling out of state and couldn’t be reached for comment.”
Comment by Wordslinger Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 12:06 pm
How could the duties of the comptroller be conducted by anyone but the comptroller until the offices are formally combined in 2018? Seems to me all the talk about Frerichs “taking over” are just empty words. If an amendment passes both offices would be eliminated and a completely new office would have control starting in 2018.
Comment by Anonymoiis Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 12:14 pm
LincolnLounger - the Department of Financial Regulation and Department of Professional Regulation were combined pretty easily. Why would it be hard to combine Comptroller and Treasurer? The combined office would undoubtedly have two divisions - one related to treasurer functions and one related to comptroller functions. Each would have a deputy, reporting to the elected Comptroller/Treasurer. Over time, they could figure out how to combine purchasing and hiring. It really shouldn’t be that hard.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 12:19 pm
I think people’s partisan instincts and animus to Frierichs are clouding there judgment. A November 2016 ballot proposition could state - effective January 1, 2017 (or March 1, or June 1 . . .), the position of Comptroller is abolished and the duties and responsibilities of the office of Comptroller are assigned to the Treasurer. It’s just not that hard.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 12:22 pm
Let me be the first to propose an amendment in 2018 to bring back the comptrollers office after the inevitable financial fraud that will take place in 2017 due to the lack of a separate comptrollers office.
Comment by William j Kelly Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 12:29 pm
If they want to combine them by 2018, fine, but don’t rush it and do it right. Then people can stand for election to the new combined position. They’d have to amend the State Constitution to do it. As for Frerichs’ little gambit there, even in Illinois I think publicly angling for another office before being sworn in to the one you have is some kind of record. Then again, it’s Illinois and I wouldn’t be surprised if it wasn’t.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 12:29 pm
Mike Frerichs is a Dope.
Via Twitter;
@MikeforIllinois: On @capitolfax today, “Frerichs wants to ‘eliminate comptroller’s office’ in 2016″. Read more here. #twill
It’s like he can’t learn how Rutherford “failed”
He is shameless about promoting himself. Could come back to haunt.
I’ve seen this movie before…
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 1:01 pm
**The treasurer’s office, on Jan 12, will become a satellite office for Frierichs’ [sic] 2016 gubernatorial bid.**
What state is Frerichs moving to run for Governor in 2016?
**He has already secured the services of a paid JJC political consultant, who is currently Director of a state agency.**
Is Jay Rowell’s name a secret?
Comment by AlabamaShake Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 1:03 pm
If a member of the press wants to have a little fun with Treasurer-elect Frerichs, ask him his opinion on merging the offices and/or having them just be executive agencies under the Governor instead of elected officials, like some other states do. (Michigan, for example.) Let me know what colors he turns after he gets the question.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 1:10 pm
Call it what you want, but hasn’t a ‘merger’ of the two offices generally been regarded as a takeover of the Comptroller’s Office by the Treasurer’s Office?
Comment by Left Leaner Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 1:41 pm
=== generally been regarded as a takeover of the Comptroller’s Office by the Treasurer’s Office===
Nope. Comptroller is the step up: on the ballot, employee headcount and general importance.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 1:43 pm
The Constitution would have to be amended to combine the offices; DPR and DFR were agencies, not Constitutional Offices.
Comment by Convention Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 1:54 pm
His original draft said “We are not annexing the Comptroller’s Office. The Comptroller’s Office has always been a part of the Treasurer’s Office. It is our 19th province.”
Comment by HoosierDaddy Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 2:40 pm
I don’t entirely understand the duties of either offices other than the basics I already know. The treasurer invests state funds and the comptroller cuts the checks. Is there a reason we have separate offices for these purposes? Why not propose a state CFO as exists in Florida?
Comment by Levois Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 3:20 pm
===Is there a reason we have separate offices for these purposes? ===
One guy stole a bunch of money sixty years ago. He was quickly caught and prosecuted. But the usual cry of “There oughta be a law!” after a single, solitary incident rose up and the Constitution was changed.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 3:29 pm
Irrelevant. He will be running for Governor in 2016 (unless Lisa M jumps in, although he might do it anyway).
Comment by Filmmaker Professor Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 4:22 pm
Thanks for the correction Rich.
Comment by Left Leaner Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 4:36 pm
==Irrelevant. He will be running for Governor in 2016 (unless Lisa M jumps in, although he might do it anyway).==
In which State will this race for Governor be in?
Comment by Anonymoiis Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 4:38 pm
Filmmaker Prof, Illinois’ next gubernatorial election is in 2018, not 2016. Goof.
Comment by ??? Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 4:45 pm
If BR wanted to do some real “shaking up” in this neighborhood, calling for the elimination of the Treasurer’s office and creation of a Treasury Department under the Governor might cool Frerichs’ jets a bit.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 8:58 pm