Quinn to decide if ethics officer should oversee mass transit

SPRINGFIELD — Gov. Pat Quinn will decide whether the state's top ethics official should oversee all of Chicago-area mass transit, after the Senate approved the authority Thursday.

Sen. Susan Garrett, a Lake Forest Democrat who sponsored the plan, said she believes the governor will sign the legislation as both chambers, the transit agencies and executive inspector general have all increased their support since it was first proposed in May.

“I am confident he will sign this without any hesitation,” Garrett said.

The Senate approved the measure 53-3, and all suburban lawmakers voted for the plan.

Quinn's office didn't commit.

“At this point, the governor plans to review the legislation,” said spokeswoman Annie Thompson.

Should Quinn sign the legislation, Executive Inspector General Ricardo Meza would have the authority to report findings of unethical conduct from board members or employees of the Regional Transit Authority, Metra, Pace and the Chicago Transit Authority. Quinn could then remove board members based on those reports.

Some lawmakers raised concerns over the added costs of the additional responsibilities, estimated by the inspector general to be as much as $1.9 million. However, Garrett said money could be reallocated from transit agencies already employing outside inspection services — such as Metra's deal with consulting firm Hillard Heintze.

“Metra will pay at least $1 million in less than a year to have a quasi inspector general, and that's just one agency,” Garrett said. “So we are saving money and are going to have oversight and transparency.”

The legislation was drafted in part as a response to the forgeries and unaccounted vacation pay received by Phil Pagano, the former executive director of Metra who committed suicide in May.