 Sen. Antonio Munoz expects the full state Senate will vote on Monken
early in January during the Legislature's lame-duck session. The
Chicago Democrat is the chairman of the committee responsible for
vetting all executive appointments.Monken's appointment by Gov.
Pat Quinn in March was met with some resistance by members of the
committee, who questioned the then-29-year-old's experience. Monken
served in the Army and is a West Point graduate but had no law
enforcement background.
For his part, Monken said he would go through the same process as
anyone else who wants to be an Illinois state trooper -- something
that has impressed Munoz.
"I have to commend him. He's been going to the (Illinois State
Police) Academy. ... He's been doing everything that the committee
had concerns about regarding him not being a policeman to be the
director," Munoz said.
Those concerns, in addition to a long list of other executive
appointees, have kept Monken from getting the Senate's stamp of
approval, according to Munoz.
The Senate has 60 legislative days after Quinn delivered the
nomination to confirm Monken. It will be cutting it close, but if
the Senate votes on the appointment during the first full week in
January, the confirmation will fall within the established time
frame, Munoz said. If the confirmation does not come within the
60-legislative-day window, Quinn would have to resubmit the
nomination.
Monken is just one of many appointees who need the Senate's
approval, and that list could soon grow by several hundred.
The Senate approved a measure Thursday that would oust hundreds
of government workers whose terms have ended if Quinn takes no
action. The measure would allow these workers to stay in their
positions for 30 days after their terms have expired.
"We have a great number of holdovers that have not been subject
to Senate confirmation for years, and that should end," said Senate
President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, who sponsored
House Bill 5057.
Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno, R-Lemont, said this
plan would reinforce the Senate's ability to vet the governor's
picks.
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Only people subject to Senate confirmation would be affected by
the plan, and it does not affect whom Quinn can nominate. Also,
temporary appointments made after the legislation is approved would
last only until the next meeting of the Senate, and acting
appointees, like Monken, could serve for only 30 legislative days.
"This is a reform, this is an important issue. I hope that the
governor would sign this bill," Cullerton said. "The Senate is a
deliberative body that would consider people's qualifications. We
can't have a system where people can just hold over and the governor
can ignore us."
Quinn apparently hasn't landed on one side or the other of
Cullerton's plan, according to a statement from a spokeswoman.
"Gov. Quinn continues to work with the leaders of the Illinois
General Assembly and will review House Bill 5057. The governor will
work with the Senate to build upon his efforts to increase
transparency in the appointment process," said Annie Thompson.
The measure now moves to the House for consideration. Illinois
Speaker of the House Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, is the
legislation's sponsor in the other chamber. This plan is different
from Madigan's plan in 2009 that would have cleared more than 700
political positions of workers left over from previous governors.
[Illinois
Statehouse News; By ANDREW THOMASON]
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