Evelyn Sanguinetti (L) would be Illinois' last lieutenant governor if HJCR 5 succeeds
SPRINGFIELD – There are good reasons for Illinois to remain among the 45 states that have lieutenant governors to assist and succeed elected governors, State Rep. Peter Breen (R-Lombard) argued on the Illinois House floor Friday afternoon.
Although the floor debate on the constitutional amendment sponsored by State Rep. David McSweeney (R-Barrington) started out surprisingly contentious, it settled down as Breen offered the reasons for his opposition to McSweeney's effort.
Among the duties the lieutenant governor offers, Breen said, are:
- Representing the state of Illinois at funerals
- Meeting with foreign heads of state of behalf of the governor's office
- Representing the governor when he's out of the state
- Serving in the case of a governor's temporary absence due to ailments – and in that case, the attorney general would have to perform double duties – as state's executive and its legal counsel at the same time.
"It is short-sighted and really small of us to think [in a case of temporary ailments] we can trade parties back and forth, that well, you may elect a conservative Republican attorney general and a liberal Democrat as your governor," Breen said.
"If the governor's not available, the people don't necessarily want the attorney general to step in."
Breen, an attorney that argues constitutional issues, also wondered whether if in the case of impeaching the governor, if the successor were to be from a competing party, whether the impeachment process were to move as quickly if the person to assume the office were from an opposing party.
"Whether a Democrat or Republican, I believe there's a need for the office," Breen said. "I don't believe we will save any money eliminating the office, but instead we will reduce the constitutional officers available to our people to do the job here. And for that reason I would respectfully urge a 'No' vote.
Rep. McSweeney introduced the legislation for the purpose of saving $1.6 million in the state budget allocated for the lieutenant governor's $137,000 a year salary and her office staff.
While a similar proposal was soundly defeated in the Illinois Senate, the Illinois House passed HJRCA 5 with an overwhelming 95 to 10 vote. Before going into effect, the amendment would need to go before Illinois voters.
