Editorial: Time is right for 'Judy's Amendment' to merge state offices

The bipartisan praise for the late Judy Baar Topinka following her death last month was a nice gesture from those who worked with the popular comptroller and longtime political fixture.

But now it's time to memorialize Topinka in an even more meaningful way by passing what is being called "Judy's Amendment," which could pave the way for the merging of the comptroller and state treasurer's office.

Topinka won re-election as comptroller in November on a platform that included the merging of the offices. She planned to continue lobbying state legislature in her second term to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot that would ask voters to approve joining the two executive financial offices - the only way it could be done.

"There are many difficult decisions facing our state and the General Assembly, but this is not one of them," Topinka wrote as quoted by the Associated Press in August. "Consolidation of the state's fiscal offices is a common sense change that will improve efficiency, save on personnel and operations costs, and deliver the long-term benefit of more timely state investments."

She promised in an editorial board meeting with the Daily Herald to be "a horrendous nag" on the topic - especially with Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, who has steadfastly refused to allow Senate-passed legislation on the topic to even get out of committee over the years.

But her death and the appointment this week of Lincolnshire resident Leslie Munger to fill the post of comptroller have raised the merger issue again. Both Munger and Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner, who appointed her, have said they will push for passage of the bill to get the constitutional question on the 2016 ballot. Meanwhile, Sens. Matt Murphy, a Republican from Palatine, and Kwame Raoul, a Chicago Democrat, have asked Senate President John Cullerton, also a Chicago Democrat, to begin moving their legislation ("Judy's Amendment") toward final passage in the Senate.

We have long pushed for a more bipartisan approach in Springfield on many issues. With Republican Rauner set to take over next week, allowing this issue to move forward in the legislature would be a strong signal that Madigan and Cullerton are willing to work with him.

We know it's not a slam dunk - even though it has been estimated the state could save $12 million when implemented. The two offices, which have nearly 400 employees between them, "are definitely little fiefdoms," Murphy told the AP, adding that with Topinka's death it was a "perfect time to assess this whole thing."

Rauner made a good appointment with Munger, a state legislative candidate whom we endorsed. She should serve out the term rather than having a special election in 2016. That would only complicate the merger issue. There could be no more fitting honor for Judy Baar Topinka than to have legislation passed this spring that would allow voters to have their say on the 2016 ballot.