Quinn Wants Investigation Into "Buttongate"

By Chuck Sudo in News on Oct 28, 2011 4:30PM

Gov. Pat Quinn is smarting from the passage of the "smart-grid" bill and its veto-proof majority. But it wouldn't be politics in Illinois if there weren't some possible shenanigans.

Quinn called for an investigation into what is being called "Buttongate." The governor wants to know the names of legislators who allegedly pushed the voting buttons of as many as 18 representatives who were not on the House floor when the electric rate-hike legislation passed.

Quinn spokeswoman Brooke Anderson said the governor found the practice "shameful," considering the rate-hike will "impact families and businesses for years to come."

Quinn called the practice a serious violation of ethical conduct.

"On a bill involving such high stakes and so much money, to have anyone other than the member casting a vote is a very serious matter that should be investigated immediately by the House,” said Quinn, who said such absentee voting “doesn’t work in the federal Congress” and is “breaking the law."

Quinn may be justified in his outrage, but even if those 18 votes were switched the legislation is still veto-proof, having the 71 votes to obtain the supermajority necessary to override Quinn's veto. The practice also isn't new. The Tribune noted in its story on "Buttongate" that it's happened as far back as the 1980s.

One of the biggest problems with the smart-grid bill according to Citizens Utility Board Senior Policy Analyst and Government Liaison Bryan McDaniel, is a lack of oversight for ComEd and Ameren, who pushed hard for the legislation's passage.

CUB believes that a smart grid done right has the potential to save consumers billions of dollars by preventing and reducing widespread power outages and making the electricity system and individual homes more efficient. But the consumer group opposed SB 1652 because of some serious checkbook issues. The bill limits the ability of consumer advocates to fight unfair rate hikes, and a 2.5 percent cap on bill increases goes away after two years.

CUB opposed SB 1652 because it didn't do enough to protect consumers. Now, our job is to hold Ameren and ComEd accountable so that consumers actually benefit from these high-tech upgrades.