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* From the Sun-Times endorsement of Comptroller Susana Mendoza…
State agencies, Mendoza discovered, were allowed to sit on bills for a year or longer before turning them over to the comptroller. That was something nobody would tolerate with mortgage or credit card payments, she reasoned, and it wasn’t doing the state of Illinois any good, either.
To fix the problem, Mendoza spearheaded passage of the Debt Transparency Act, gathering support for the bill from both Democrats and Republicans. Then, after Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed the bill, she went around the state to champion the bill with newspaper editorial boards.
The final result: The General Assembly overrode Rauner’s veto, and now the comptroller’s office receives monthly reports on all bills. There is a more full and honest accounting.
The other result is that after Rauner’s foolish veto, Mendoza had a built-in excuse to visit editorial boards across the state to ask them to help override him. They were impressed and they sided with her against Rauner. It was an important moment because lots of editorial boards were soft on Rauner until then.
* Her effort has paid off well so far. Chicago Tribune…
With the state’s budget impasse in full swing, Mendoza grabbed her bullhorn and launched an impassioned effort to reset the bill-paying priorities for a state in crisis. In a flash, she became one of the governor’s most vocal critics. We like her gusto.
We asked Mendoza about rumors of a potential Chicago mayoral run. She demurred, but she also wouldn’t pledge to stay in her state job for a full four years if she wins. Even if the comptroller job proves a steppingstone for Mendoza, though, she has plunged into the state’s finances with impressive fervor. She pushed Rauner to borrow $6 billion to start paying down the state’s massive backlog of unpaid bills. She advocated for the Debt Transparency Act, which requires state agencies to file monthly reports on unpaid bills, and successfully lobbied lawmakers to override Rauner’s veto of the bill. She also fought for passage of two other laws aimed at improving the bill-paying process — one authorizing the treasurer to use special funds to accelerate vendor payments (and avoid late fees) and one that requires increased disclosure from certain financial institutions working with the state. These three new laws are helping Illinois rebuild its standing with creditors, even as credit agencies such as Moody’s note that it will take far more than this legislation to correct the state’s financial mess.
* Quincy Herald Whig…
In no small part, Mendoza’s success was due to the six terms she spent representing the 1st District in the House. That gave her the working knowledge of the legislative process necessary to pass this bill and more.
Earlier this year, she also helped shepherd the Truth in Hiring Act through the legislature, again with overwhelming support. This measure ends the gubernatorial practice of paying salaries for that office from the budgets of other agencies, a practice that had gone on for far too long. Facing overwhelming support for the bill, Rauner wisely signed it in July. […]
We heartily endorse her re-election.
* State Journal-Register…
Mendoza’s first two years in office saw the implementation of long-overdue reforms that keep Illinoisans better informed, and came after a tumultuous time in which she was the third comptroller in two years. Stability also would be a good thing for the state. Imagine how much more transparent government could be if Mendoza has another four years in office to continue to advocate for the everyday people she represents. Mendoza is endorsed.
* All mentioned the possibility that she could run for mayor after winning statewide. Champaign News-Gazette…
Unfortunately, there’s no guarantee that, if elected, Mendoza will stick around. She’s pointedly refused to rule out a run next year for mayor of Chicago. Indeed, she is actively considering it, even though it’s, at best, a long shot.
That kind of me-first approach to public office is a little hard to swallow. Nonetheless, Mendoza has been an effective comptroller who has earned a second term in office.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 11:13 am
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Given her closeness to Madigan and her opposition to Rauner, bagging the Trib endorsement is pretty impressive.
Comment by Roman Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 11:27 am
–The other result is that after Rauner’s foolish veto, Mendoza had a built-in excuse to visit editorial boards across the state to ask them to help override him. They were impressed and they sided with her against Rauner. It was an important moment because lots of editorial boards were soft on Rauner until then.–
So strange.
I’m trying to imagine the thinking and discussion between Rauner and BTIA(TM) that landed on trying to get tough on bipartisan, veto-proof, common-sense, fiscally responsible goo-goo legislation.
Was it the result of way too many Brewskis with Bruce?
It’s like rationally and logically concluding to give your opponents a club to hit you in the head.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 11:32 am
==That kind of me-first approach to public office is a little hard to swallow.==
It’s too much for me. She’s the opposite of Jesse White. Even her slick TV ads are only about selling her, like she’s a brand of cheese. How many times have we seen these eager A-types use us like stepping stones to gain increasing political power?
This Susana doesn’t have a banjo on her knee, or crying for anyone.
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 11:46 am
The best way to be seen as effective is to do your job.
Can’t say Mendoza hasn’t been effective, bipartisan, or done her job.
People notice success as well as failure.
Same as it ever was.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 11:57 am
She’s pointedly refused to rule out a run next year for mayor of Chicago. Indeed, she is actively considering it, even though it’s, at best, a long shot.
HUH? Long shot? maybe the News- Gazette doesn’t understand Chicago politics? Favorite? No. In the top 3 candidates? Maybe. But a Longshot? Nope. Not at all.
Comment by 10th Ward Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 12:10 pm
A slick ad selling a product? VMan you are slipping. Maybe check if you are due for a firmware update.
Comment by Sonny Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 12:25 pm
=Even her slick TV ads are only about selling her, like she’s a brand of cheese.=
A leader making it more about him or her? We can’t stand for that. In fact you might want to run this grievance up to the top of the political food chain.
Comment by Pundent Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 12:38 pm
Every now and again, someone runs for office who just wants to make government run better; be more responsive to the people; and she actually succeeds in getting it done. Leaves a lot of us cynics who spend our time searching for sinister motives scratching our heads.
Comment by Impressed Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 12:52 pm
==Even her slick TV ads are only about selling her==
What, exactly, should she be selling? The Comptroller and Treasurer offices are all about having someone you can trust to keep an eye on the money. That’s it.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 12:55 pm
I don’t like her political party but she has taken the Comptroller Office and made it work. Can’t argue with that. Maybe if Rauner and his tribe had focused more on actually making government work rather than just trying to blow things up he would have a shot at re-election but not the path he chose.
Comment by NeverPoliticallyCorrect Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 1:05 pm
And the Comptrollers office, which you fail to acknowledge is not paying those invoices, years later all by herself..racking up millions in interest.
Would like to see my list she has not paid since she took over the purse strings?
Comment by anonymous Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 1:07 pm
= And the Comptrollers office, which you fail to acknowledge is not paying those invoices, years later all by herself..racking up millions in interest.
Would like to see my list she has not paid since she took over the purse strings? =
The Comptroller, regardless of who holds the office, can’t write checks that he/she can’t cover. There’s a $7.5 billion general funds backlog as of today, and only $512.7 million balance in those funds.
Comment by cover Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 1:29 pm
===There’s a $7.5 billion general funds backlog as of today, and only $512.7 million balance in those funds. ===
Please, don’t confuse trolls with facts. /s
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 1:39 pm
==can’t write checks that he/she can’t cover==
Perhaps they are from the “if there’s checks in the checkbook we’re good” school of finance.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 1:41 pm
=I don’t like her political party=
So what do you like about being a Republican?
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 2:05 pm
–And the Comptrollers office, which you fail to acknowledge is not paying those invoices, years later all by herself..racking up millions in interest.–
You are remarkably confused.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 2:16 pm
On Mendoza running for state comptroller and mayor at the same time, the Champaign News Gazette hits the nail on the head: “That kind of me-first approach to public service is a little hard to swallow.”
That kind of me-first politics helps give Illinois its reputation as anti-reform Democrats.
Comment by West Wing Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 3:06 pm
And also late with AFR and TIF reporting forms to local governments while she was out visiting editorial boards and tweeting. But she got A bill passed. Please Chicago, take her.
Comment by Shemp Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 3:30 pm
Schock owes her an endorsement for the days she was supporting him sticking to the IL 18th CD.
Comment by Duopoly Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 4:02 pm
As a citizen, I’m confident Mendoza has been a good Comptroller and has held Rauner accountable for his budget mayhem. But as a Democrat, it’s still hard for me to forgive her for campaigning for Aaron Schock and appearing in his campaign commercials.
Comment by Dr. Wolfgang Von Tax Returns Tuesday, Oct 16, 18 @ 4:06 pm