 Gov. Pat Quinn vetoed legislation last month that would have allowed
Commonwealth Edison Co. and Ameren to charge customers more to pay
for statewide infrastructure upgrades.Under this proposal,
Commonwealth Edison Co. customers would have seen their bill jump by
$36 a year and Ameren customers by $40 more annually.
The General Assembly likely will take up the measure when it
returns Oct. 25 for the fall veto session.
Commonwealth Edison Co. and its parent company, Exelon, and
Ameren have donated to 38 legislators since Quinn's veto Sept. 12,
according to Illinois State Board of Election records.
"They are trying to reinforce positions, so they definitely give
money to people that have supported them in the past. They give
money to leaders, but they are also trying to influence votes," said
Kent Redfield, a professor of political science at the University of
Illinois at Springfield.
Nine of the 38 legislators either voted "no" or "present" on the
legislation in the spring. The measure squeaked out of the General
Assembly with votes of 67-47 in the House and 31-24 in the Senate.
If bill proponents want to override Quinn's veto, they need 71 votes
in the House and 36 votes in the Senate.
The largest chunk of cash from the utility companies -- $19,000
-- went to the state Senate and House Republican caucuses. The state
Senate Democratic caucus received $15,000. Caucuses can divide that
money among their members to help in upcoming re-election efforts.
State Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, received a total of $8,000,
the most from the two power companies in recent weeks. The former
GOP gubernatorial candidate was followed by House GOP Leader Tom
Cross, R-Oswego, who was given a total of $6,000 from both
companies.
Cross and Brady voted for the legislation earlier this year.
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Lawmakers in favor of the plan insist they want what's best for
the consumer and aren't influenced by money.
In fact, state Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-East Moline, allegedly struck
fellow Sen. Kyle McCarter, R-Lebanon, on the Senate floor during a
debate, after McCarter said Jacobs' father, Denny Jacobs, is a
lobbyist for Commonwealth Edison.
Jacobs, who sponsored the legislation in the Senate, has received
$3,000 from both companies since Quinn's veto.
For his part, Jacobs said the measure is about upgrading an aging
electrical grid.
"What does a utility company care if they build a new smart grid?
They're still going to have customers (if they don't). This is going
to be good for citizens. You just can't rely on a grid that was
built in the 1800s," Jacobs said.
State Sen. Dave Luechtefeld, R-Okawville, agreed that the
electrical grid needs to be modernized.
[Illinois
Statehouse News; By ANDREW THOMASON]
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