 If passed by the House,
Senate Bill 1 will tighten regulations regarding unconfirmed
gubernatorial appointees, requiring the governor to resubmit
nominations for all existing appointees who have served past their
term.If not renominated, salaried appointees will be immediately
removed, while unsalaried appointees will have a 30-day window.
"It's meant to correct what we see as a loophole in the law,"
Senate President and co-sponsor John Cullerton, D-Chicago, said in a
written statement.
Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington, agreed.
"It speaks well for the people of Illinois to put a safeguard in
-- of a system of checks and balances in the structure of government
appointees," Brady said.
The Senate estimates more than 500 appointees are serving without
confirmation, including Gov. Pat Quinn's controversial pick of
Jonathon Monken as director of the Illinois State Police.
Monken has been serving since March 2009 without confirmation,
despite concerns over his lack of law enforcement experience.
"There were appointments made by the governor that many of us had
questions -- whether they were political appointments or whether
they were appointments of individuals we didn't feel had the
expertise or the experience to bring to that particular office,"
said Sen. Pamela Althoff, R-Crystal Lake.
Monken could not be reached for a statement.
"Gov. Quinn has been pretty open about his ongoing review of
cabinet-level positions as part of his transition," Quinn's
spokeswoman Annie Thompson said. "He is reviewing all top cabinet
positions, and we are continuing to finalize those decisions."
Under the Illinois Constitution, the Senate is required to
confirm gubernatorial appointees within 60 session days after it
receives a notification from the governor.
However, Monken is among the handful of appointees whose
nominations were never brought to the Senate floor for a vote, and
thus he has able to serve for an indefinite period.
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Although the measure does not specifically set a time limit for
the Senate to bring a nomination to the floor, Cullerton believes it
will change behavior.
"We're changing the practice if you will. I don't think it'll be
necessary to change the rule. As soon as the governor files (a
nomination), we will read it into record," said Cullerton.
Althoff said the proposal will bring more equity into the system.
"That's the whole point of the process, is it not -- a checks and
balance? You can't have one branch of government just unilaterally
make a decision and assume it's going to be a rubber stamp," Althoff
said.
The measure now moves to the House for approval, where it will be
considered, said Steve Brown, a spokesman for House Speaker Michael
Madigan, D-Chicago.
"We have not reviewed the bill," said Brown. "I would imagine (it
will take) some time. We are just beginning to review House bills."
A similar version of the plan passed the Senate in the previous
legislative session but was never debated in the House.
It will be up to Madigan to push the measure forward, Brady said.
"I think that, certainly, something coming from the Senate with
that particularly strong of a vote lends itself to be warmly
received in the House," Brady said.
[Illinois
Statehouse News; By MELISSA LEU]
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