 Which one largely depends one’s political viewpoint, analysts said.
Quinn ordered legislators back to Springfield for a Jan. 8 special session to
authorize a 2016 general election to fill the office of state comptroller.
“Nobody but Judy Baar Topinka was elected to do this job. That’s why it’s so
important that voters have the soonest possible opportunity to elect their
comptroller,” the governor said in a news release. “Holding a special elect is
the right thing to do.”
Topinka, 70, the Riverside Republican incumbent and November winner of another
four-year term, died suddenly last week after suffering a stroke.
Since then, Quinn, who has less than a month in office, and Gov.-elect Bruce
Rauner have sparred over which man should name the replacement, how and for how
long.
Earlier this week, Attorney General Lisa Madigan, D-Chicago, issued her opinion.
Essentially, she said Quinn could appoint an interim comptroller, but Rauner
would be free after his Jan. 12 inauguration to appoint a person to serve out
Topinka’s term.
However, just because Rauner could do that, it doesn’t mean he should, she said.
Instead, the attorney general suggested a 2016 special election, citing “a
fundamental principle in a democracy that the people should elect the officers
who represent them.”
Will the Democratic-controlled Legislature, the body that would have to enable a
2016 election for comptroller, heed Quinn’s request?
Maybe.
The Democrats
Steve Brown, spokesman for House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, said he
didn’t want to predict an outcome of a special session, but added House
Democrats view the disagreement as an “executive matter,” and are “hopeful the
governor and governor-elect come to a sensible solution.”
Senate Democrats seemed more inclined to line up with Quinn.
Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, agrees a special session is
appropriate and the voters should elect their comptroller in 2016, said Rikeesha
Phelon, spokeswoman for Cullerton.
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 The Republicans
Republicans disagreed.
Said Rauner’s team, “There is a real likelihood that a statute
mandating a special election would violate the constitution and
result in costly litigation and uncertainty for Illinois taxpayers.
“The only route to enact a special election for a statewide
officeholder that is absolutely consistent with the (Illinois)
constitution is passing a constitutional amendment. Additionally,
any major change like this should apply to all future vacancies and
be carefully and thoughtfully discussed – not rushed through in a
last minute special session that would look overtly political.”
House and Senate Republicans, led by Rep. Jim Durkin of Western
Springs and Sen. Christine Radogno of Lemont, respectively, issued a
joint statement:
“The Illinois Constitution requires the Governor-elect to appoint a
new comptroller to a four-year term. A partisan and constitutionally
dubious eleventh-hour law would face a certain legal challenge and
force the people of Illinois to endure a protracted and legal battle
that no one wants.”
The analysts
“Are we really surprised there’s politics in Springfield?” asked
David Yepsen, a longtime political analyst and director of the Paul
Simon Public Policy Institute.
If Cullerton and Michael Madigan do go along with Quinn and
immediately oppose the man who will be governor for at least the
next four years, that may not bode well for a bipartisan
relationship, Yepsen pointed out.
Political scientist Kent Redfield, professor emeritus at University
of Illinois Springfield, said Quinn tossed out a proposal that is
sellable as s pro-election, pro-voter and in line with popular
opinion.
On the other hand, he said, opponents can paint Quinn as struggling
to remain relevant and extending the reach of his governorship
beyond its time.
Depending how one wants to spin it, the governor is either making a
power play or advancing democracy, Redfield said.
[This
article courtesy of
Watchdog.]
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