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 The governor on Monday once again promised to veto controversial
legislation headed for a vote in Springfield. Quinn said he would
not sign the Smart Grid legislation, which promises newer technology
from Commonwealth Edison Co. and Ameren Services. But it also comes
with a price.
"(The legislation from the utilities) that they have proposed for
oversight of electric utilities in the state of Illinois is just not
acceptable to the people of our state and the consumers of our
state," said Quinn.
Smart Grid would give ComEd and Ameren automatic rate increases.
Ameren's downstate customers would pay an extra $5 a year. ComEd's
customers would pay an extra $36 a year. But the companies would be
required to spend millions on a new power grid, new meters and new
automatic technology.
Stacy Conklen, a 35-year-old medical assistant from Mount Sterling,
isn't giving Quinn a thumbs-up for his promised veto. But she said
she's happy with anything that will keep her ComEd bill from
jumping.
"Everything is going up. Didn't they just have an increase not too
long ago?" Conklen asked. "I can't support a plan that would raise
my power bill."
Lawmakers, the Illinois attorney general's office, the Illinois
Commerce Commission and consumer advocates have been meeting for
months as they try to reach an agreement before the end of the
spring legislative session.
But Monday's comments at his news conference were Quinn's first on
the legislation. He said he now wants everyone to go back to the
bargaining table.
"This is the businesses' end of the ballgame. More will be done in
the next three weeks than have been done in the last three months,"
said Quinn. "Last week we made our position known on (legislation)
that was coming up, and we were able to prevail on that. And I think
we'll be able to do that on this (legislation) that ComEd is
currently proposing."
The governor last week promised a veto of concealed-carry
legislation. The Illinois House a few days later failed to pass the
measure.
Smart Grid's legislative sponsor, state Rep. Kevin McCarthy,
D-Orland Park, said the governor didn't need to wait for a news
conference to take a position.
"This is pretty late in the session. And many times in the past I've
seen (proposals) get weighed down so heavy that they collapse from
their own weight," said McCarthy. McCarthy said he's been saying for months that lawmakers, advocates
or anyone else who has a problem with the Smart Grid plan should
call him and let him know. McCarthy said he'd only heard rumors from
Quinn's office before Monday's news conference.
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Craig Nelson with Ameren said he'd also heard nothing from Quinn or
any of the governor's staff about opposition to Smart Grid.
"The whole legislative process is fraught with ups and downs,"
Nelson said. "This is just part of that process."
ComEd also declined to comment on the governor's opposition. Mike Lawrence, who worked with former Gov. Jim Edgar and headed the
Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University,
said no one should be surprised that Quinn is against a proposal
that could make big utility companies more money.
Lawrence is quick to point out that Quinn made a name for himself
establishing the Citizens Utility Board. The board was established
by the Legislature and represents the interests of residential
utility customers across the state.
"The fact that he's decided to weigh in on Smart Grid and concealed
carry as the Legislature winds down makes sense," Lawrence said.
"He's probably also become somewhat sensitive to the criticism that
he hasn't been engaging." Lawrence said the governor is staying true to his populist past. And
Lawrence said lawmakers are staying true to their past.
"It's really not unusual for legislators to complain about governors
not being sufficiently engaged in a legislative session," Lawrence
pointed out. "Those criticisms have been made by many legislators
regarding several governors at various points over the last several
decades."
Quinn said he now hopes to start work on a new version of Smart
Grid.
"We have time, this month, really to negotiate something that is in
their interest, the consumer's interest and the worker's interest,
in Illinois," said Quinn.
McCarthy said the plan is still a work in progress, but he added
that the final version may not be what the governor wants. And
McCarthy said Quinn's veto might not change that.
"I think if these last few things come together in an agreeable
manner, I think we'll get a vote that is over the 71 that'll be
needed (to override a veto)," said McCarthy. "The governor, of
course, still has the right to veto it no matter how many votes it
gets."
McCarthy said he may have a finalized Smart Grid plan by the end of
the week.
[Illinois
Statehouse News; By BENJAMIN YOUNT] |
