 He can't sign them. He can't veto them. He can't do anything but
wait.Senate President John Cullerton is using a legislative
sleight of hand to keep the bills in his chamber so that Quinn won't
veto them.
The parliamentary maneuver -- a motion to reconsider a vote,
known as Senate Rule 7-15 -- isn't a new one. But it's more
typically used when lawmakers want to vote again on legislation, not
to keep an already-passed bill out of the governor's hands.
"I don't remember it happening before," said former Republican
Gov. Jim Edgar. "In fact, when Cullerton first told me about it, I
kind of thought, 'Gee, I didn't know you could even do that."'
Cullerton said he supports both bills and wants to try to work
out a deal with Quinn to save them. But the maneuver also is a
reflection on Quinn, who has expressed reservations about both of
the bills but has a history of compromise -- and changing his mind
-- that is well known to lawmakers.
Cullerton's hold on the bills gives Quinn more time to consult
and think about the bills, and it gives proponents more time to work
on persuading him.
"There's no sense in giving it to him to veto it," Cullerton said
last month.
Quinn hasn't said what he'll do once he gets the gambling bill,
which would create five new casinos -- in Chicago, Danville,
Rockford, Park City in Lake County and one in south suburban
Chicago. It also would add slot machines at seven racetracks in the
state and at Chicago's airports. In the past, however, he has been
critical of such a huge expansion of gaming, even telling one mayor
not to "hold his breath" waiting for a casino to be approved.
The governor already has threatened to veto the energy bill,
which would raise electric rates as part of a $3 billion plan to
give Commonwealth Edison and Ameren money for basic infrastructure
and for a modern Smart Grid, a high-tech system for monitoring
energy to reduce waste. Consumer advocates oppose the bill because
of the higher fees.
The governor has called out lawmakers for holding the bills,
especially the gambling expansion. Technically, lawmakers have 30
days to send legislation to the governor after it's passed, after
which the governor has 60 days to review it.
It's common for lawmakers to send legislation to the governor
even when they think he'll veto it. The gambling expansion passed
the Senate on May 31.
"If you believe in a bill -- and apparently there are members of
the House and Senate who believe in this bill -- then not to send it
to the governor is, I feel, kind of curious, sort of odd," Quinn
said.
Yet Quinn has said things and taken public stands before and then
switched positions. For example, he vetoed an ethics bill he once
praised.
"When he takes a position, lots of times that doesn't seem to be
his final position," said Kent Redfield, a professor emeritus of
politics at the University of Illinois in Springfield.
Quinn spokeswoman Mica Matsoff said Quinn has an open mind, which
she characterized as a sign of leadership.
"He will always listen to differing viewpoints, and, after this
critical review, is willing to make adjustments if it is in the best
interests of the people of Illinois," she said in a statement to The
Associated Press.
[to top of second column]
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Senate Rule 7-15 says a lawmaker who supported a bill "may on the
same or following day move to reconsider the vote."
After the Senate approved the gambling and energy bills,
Cullerton filed such motions to vote again, even though he doesn't
really want a second vote on either measure. Until the motions are
withdrawn, the Senate hasn't officially finished its work on the
bills and they remain locked up in the Legislature.
There's much at stake in Quinn's decision. Chicago Mayor Emanuel
is among a number of local officials who see the proposed casinos as
revenue generators that can revive lagging state and city budgets.
In the meantime, Quinn isn't sitting idly by. He has spent weeks
meeting with supporters and opponents of the gambling bill.
"It deserves scrutiny from top to bottom, and that's what I
intend to give it. And I think that's a healthy thing for our state
that the governor is there to make sure that every sentence is
looked at," he said.
Democratic Rep. Lou Lang of Skokie, a chief sponsor of the
gambling expansion, said he applauded Cullerton's procedural move so
supporters could work to convince Quinn of its merits.
"The House and the Senate have rules, and every rule is in the
rule book for a reason, and there certainly is nothing wrong with
using the rules in the rule book," Lang said.
Lang said he'll ask Cullerton to release the bill to Quinn before
the end of next month so the governor has 60 days to act before
lawmakers return to Springfield for their fall veto session. That
way, Lang has time to round up necessary votes if Quinn changes or
vetoes the bill.
Democratic Rep. Kevin McCarthy, a sponsor of the energy bill,
said he will make one more attempt to convince Quinn of its merits
and then ask Cullerton to release it.
McCarthy said his best hope might be an amendatory veto, rather
than a full veto, if Quinn's changes are acceptable to both sides.
"It has given us some time," McCarthy said.
[Associated Press;
By DEANNA BELLANDI]
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed.
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