Illinois Lt Governor job may be eliminated

[mucifer]

February 11, 2010
Facing criticism, Speaker Madigan suggests eliminating lieutenant governor office


Posted by Ray Long and Monique Garcia at 9:12 a.m.; last updated with Madigan WGN radio interview at 11:22 a.m.

SPRINGFIELD---Facing criticism from some fellow Democrats over the Scott Lee Cohen primary election debacle, House Speaker Michael Madigan introduced a measure that would eliminate the office of lieutenant governor five years from now.

"I have thought for quite a while that the office could be eliminated, should be eliminated. And I think we have an opportunity now, with the events coming out of the primary, where we ought to be able to adopt this resolution and going forward provide that we should be without that office anymore," Madigan told WGN 720-AM's John Williams this morning.

Cohen won the lieutenant governor primary last week but on Sunday said he would drop out of the race. That followed days of reports that Cohen has been accused of abusing women, injecting illegal steroids and failing to pay $54,000 in child support. Madigan has said he called Cohen and advised him to step down. Many top Democrats publicly called for Cohen to quit.

The proposal by Madigan, who doubles as Illinois Democratic Party chairman, faces long odds because it's a constitutional amendment. That means 60 percent of lawmakers in the House and Senate would have to approve putting the question to voters in the November election. Lawmakers would have to agree to do so by early May. Then a majority of voters in the election or 60 percent of voters weighing on the lieutenant governor's question would have to approve it... snip

http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2010/02/facing-criticism-speaker-madigan-suggests-eliminating-lieutenant-governor-office.html

IL dems are such a mess. It gets so embarrassing here.

[sharesunited]

1. This is a dumb solution. The presidency used to have the same problem.

And it was fixed without abolishing the office of Vice President.

[Skink]

2. Eliminate the Governor job. Problem solved.

[LiberalFighter]

3. I see no point in eliminating the position.

If the position is eliminated then it would require filling the position with a person that was not on the same slate and possibly of a different party.

It would be much simpler to keep the present method in place. With a vacancy in the Governor's office the Lt Gov moves up and names their replacement.

If they have the SoS fill the vacancy who decides the person that replaces the SoS vacancy? Will they require that the person is of the same party? If not, is that morally right? There are other types of vacancies that could occur besides corruption. It could be the Governor dies, resigns to accept another offer.

[ChicagoSuz219]

4. Quinn doesn't want that. n/t

[dysfunctional press]

5. they should have them run as a team in the primary.

that would be one solution.

[mucifer]

6. any changes require changes in the IL state constitution.