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* I didn’t realize this until yesterday…
Access to water and electricity, fair utility rates, decent cell phone and cable service, and safe railroad grades are all issues that are vitally important to rural Illinois consumers.
Yet no rural or downstate residents today sit on the Illinois Commerce Commission, the powerful five-member state panel that regulates utilities, approves utility rates, licenses trucking and towing companies and oversees railroad safety and crossing improvements.
Since taking office in 2015, Gov. Bruce Rauner has appointed five members to the commission; none live outside of Cook and DuPage counties. It marks the first time in a century that the commission has lacked a downstate member.
“There is a lot of Illinois outside of Chicago and the suburbs, and the people in these communities deserve to have someone on the commerce commission who will represent their interests and their point of view,” said State Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill).
(Go here, then click the hyperlinked text “Commissioner List” to view a list of past ICC commissioners, their hometowns and the governors who appointed them.)
On Monday, the Senate Executive Appointments Committee voted to recommend two of Rauner’s pending appointments to the commission: D. Ethan Kimbrel and Anastasia Palivos, both of Chicago. Manar, who is vice chairman of the committee, voted no on both recommendations.
Kimbrel’s recommendation was forwarded to the full Senate for approval Monday afternoon. It passed 45-1. Manar, who represents a largely rural swath of central Illinois, cast the lone no vote.
It was unclear when Palivos’ recommendation may receive a vote before the full Senate.
* From the governor’s office…
Our administration has worked diligently to appoint qualified experts to the Illinois Commerce Commission who meet the stringent statutory requirements. These individuals are tasked with taking a broad look at the state as a whole to make decisions that are in the best interest of all of the citizens of Illinois.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 11:58 am
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So GovJunk garbed in his plaids & Carharts thinks the rubes won’t notice? Suprise
Comment by Annonin' Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 12:05 pm
Palivos is the daughter of George Ryan pal Peter Palivos, who went to prison for obstructing the feds in a real estate deal. Palivos said that was payback for his failure to help in the Ryan investigation. When Ryan was SOS, Palivos rented an office to SOS downtown and was Ryan’s personal friend, according to Palivos.
Comment by Anonimity Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 12:09 pm
“who meet the stringent statutory requirements”
Ha(exclamation point).
The only statutory requirement is you can’t be employed by an entity that is regulated by the ICC or a stockholder. Doesn’t sound all that strict.
Comment by Juice Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 12:11 pm
This is a problem at many agencies (and not limited to Rauner’s tenure). Many really don’t believe that connectivity issues in the far southern parts of the state are any different than those faced by people in the northern part of the state.
Interesting on that list that you have to go all the way back to 1986 before you get to anyone south of Springfield, which, as seems to be a surprise to many, is actually in the center of the state and not remotely “southern” Illinois.
Comment by Katiedid Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 12:18 pm
Downstate Raunerites are “fine” with that.
Bruce and Diana Rauner control the Raunerite Party and while the downstate members may be upset, they are wholly owned by Bruce and Diana’s money… so things like no downstate representation is more than fine for downstate Raunerites… If the checks clear.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 12:18 pm
Qualified? What qualifications does Palivos have for ICC?
Comment by One Time Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 12:19 pm
yep. there should be representation.
Comment by Amalia Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 1:19 pm
One Time hits the nail on the head.
Comment by Nortorious RBG Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 1:35 pm
Kimbrel served as a Law Judge at the ICC for 11 years. Not enough for Manar?
Comment by City Zen Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 1:46 pm
Rauner’s appointments to the ICC have generally been a train wreck, starting with that disastrous chairman Brien Sheahan. Under his leadership the commission has become nothing but a rubber stamp for utilities. He actively lobbied behind the scenes to pass the Future Energy Jobs Act (the Exelon bailout) and now runs the NextGrid process designed to cater to ComEd. Their oversight of People’s Gas was so bad that Crain’s editorialized that they have become useless:
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20180119/ISSUE07/180119867/this-regulator-flirts-with-uselessness
And yea, Palivos is completely unqualified for the ICC. With that appointment and others, it’s amazing that the ICC flak actually put out these words: “Our administration has worked diligently to appoint qualified experts to the Commission…” What a sad joke.
Comment by Anon0091 Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 1:46 pm
“There is a lot of Illinois outside of Chicago and the suburbs, and the people in these communities deserve to have someone on the commerce commission who will represent their interests and their point of view,”
Not really senator. Most of Illinois resides in Cook and the the collar counties.
Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 1:53 pm
City Zen- Senator Manar is speaking to geographical representation…
Comment by Fool On The Hill Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 1:56 pm
Fool On The Hill - 11 years on the Commission in an important legal capacity is what matters to represent working families in the state. Is there another ICC member with equal or more experience from downstate that got passed up? If not, it’s a petty and embarrassing no vote.
Comment by City Zen Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 2:01 pm
So wait, did Palivous get confirmed?
Comment by Anon Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 2:10 pm
Perhaps it is time to change things around where it is required to have members from far north, south, east, west from whole state.
Comment by cc Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 4:18 pm
No one is questioning anyone’s current qualifications, but I bet, if you looked at all, you could find qualified people from around the state to serve. It is a state commission, there should be representation from all regions of the state.
Comment by Fool On The Hill Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 5:10 pm
I suspect if one took a broader look at Rauner board and Commission appointments that a similar pattern would emerge. He appoints a lot of folks from the ‘hood when no geographic restrictions are present.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, May 29, 18 @ 5:55 pm