Lawmakers are remulling a proposal that would have tightened the executive appointment process. The Legislature two months ago approved a bill requiring him to renominate appointees whose terms have expired. Tuesday Quinn used his amendatory power to tack on a provision to keep appointees from the previous administration in office a while longer.
"My recommendations for change would honor the intent of the sponsors but would also give citizens ample time to apply for a vacant position and allow a reasonable amount of time for identifying and recruiting qualified candidates," Quinn said in an emailed statement.
The legislation would have cleared out expired salaried appointees once their terms ended, unless renominated by the governor and then reconfirmed by the Senate. Unsalaried appointees would have had 30 days to leave their jobs. Quinn made changes to keep salaried appointees in office until July 1, and unsalaried appointees until Oct. 1.
Some 547 appointees are serving expired terms, according to information from John Patterson, a spokesman for Senate Democrats.
Rikeesha Phelon, spokeswoman for for Senate President John Cullerton said, "I think it is important for people to know cleaning up the appointments process in the wake of the (Gov. Rod) Blagojevich scandal remains a top priority for the Senate president."
Steve Brown, spokesman for House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, said the House will wait to see what the Senate does with the legislation. Lawmakers in both chambers can vote to accept Quinn's changes, or override his partial veto with a three-fifths vote.
You can read Diane's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/5814/quinn-wants-more-time-for-expired-appointees/
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