Plans to Eliminate Lt. Governor Advance in Springfield

By Kevin Robinson in News on Feb 25, 2010 3:20PM

House Speaker Michael Madigan's proposal to eliminate the office of Lt. Governor advanced in the Illinois House yesterday, as the House Executive Committee voted 8-0 to send the measure to the full house. Under Madigan's proposed amendment, the office would be eliminated by 2015. The bill must still clear the state Senate and be approved by voters in November. The Madigan Amendment would provide for the State Attorney General to assume the governor's seat in the event that the sitting governor quits, dies or is removed from office.

Skokie Representative Lou Lang, part of Madigan's leadership team, has also had a proposal advance past committee. The Lang Alternative would require candidates for Governor and Lt. Governor to run as a team in primaries, starting in 2014. Three Republicans on the committee voted "present." They say the amendment should wait, as the number of questions that can be put before voters is limited, and they say that a better idea may come forward.