A press release from State Rep. David McSweeney:
House Committee Approves McSweeney Constitutional Amendment to Eliminate the Office of Lt. Governor
Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti would finish her term in 2019 under this Constitutional Amendment. If passed by the voters, starting in 2019, the Constitution would have the Attorney General replace the Governor, if the Governor needed replacing during his or her term.
Springfield, IL…The Illinois House State Government Administration Committee today approved a measure to save taxpayers approximately $1.6 million each year by eliminating the office of Lieutenant Governor according to State Representative David McSweeney (R-Barrington Hills), the sponsor of the legislation.
The Illinois House State Government Administration Committee approved House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 5 (HJRCA 5) by a 12-0 vote.
“The office of Lieutenant Governor has limited official responsibilities and it is time to eliminate the office,” McSweeney said.
“In light of the state’s overwhelming financial problems, we need to be looking at ways to save taxpayers’ money. I have supported the idea of eliminating the office of Lieutenant Governor for many years because it is a simple way to reduce expenses and save taxpayers’ money.”
House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 5 (HJRCA 5) would eliminate the office of the Lieutenant Governor beginning with the term of office commencing in 2019.
The bill provides for a new Gubernatorial succession with the Attorney General, Secretary of State, and then as provided by law, respectively.
The $1.6 million savings estimate is derived by averaging the money appropriated for the Lieutenant Governor’s office for FY 11 through FY 15.
“The bottom line is that eliminating the office of Lieutenant Governor would save taxpayers about $1.6 million each year,” McSweeney said. “Obviously, we still have a long way to go to get Illinois’ finances back on track, but we have to start somewhere. Eliminating an office with limited responsibilities and duties is a logical place to start.”
In 2013, Representative McSweeney sponsored the same constitutional amendment to eliminate the Lieutenant Governor’s office (HJRCA 18), which passed the House with 83 votes.
HJRCA 5 will now move to the House Floor for further consideration.
It requires a three-fifths majority to pass.
That should be just the start.
What about abolishing the senate and house and going unicameral, like Nebraska?
Of course the demographics of Nebraska are quite a bit different, and so many officeholders, from so many tribes, just love those do-nothing sinecures and pensions.
Wracked by the Great Depression, the Dustbowl and a broke state …. Nebraska went back to the Colonial roots of the Country.
I invite you to watch this short video on unicameralism, the great Republican US Senator Norris, and its stunning success in Nebraska:
http://www.nebraskalegislature.gov/about/history_unicameral.php
WHY does the Lt. Governor’s office still exist?
WHY does Evelyn Sanguinetti have a “Chief of Staff” making SIX-FIGURES A YEAR of taxpayers’ money?
No official duties, yet she has a $1.6 MILLION a year budget?
And Rauner is “turning around” Illinois?
Unbelievable…