Quinn Signs Cemetery Bill

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Jan 18, 2010 8:30PM

Yesterday, Governor Quinn signed into law a bill that regulates oversight for the state's cemeteries, a bill introduced in the wake of the horrific Burr Oak scandal. The Trib reports, "The new regulations will require cemetery owners, managers and customer-service employees to be licensed and undergo continuing education courses. Cemeteries will be required to keep burial maps, which will be stored in a database maintained by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation." State Sen. Donne Trotter (D-Chicago) said, "We cannot legislate morality, but as lawmakers ... it is our responsibility and our duty to ensure that those that provide services in this state operate under regulations, operate with oversight."

There's also a little political gamesmanship involved: the new bill takes responsibilities away from the State Comptroller and gives it to the Governor. In this case, that would be taking away from Dan Hynes and giving to Pat Quinn, who just happen to be squaring off in this February's Democratic gubernatorial primary.