New law curbs lame-duck appointments
A new law will try to prevent future lame-duck appointments by departing governors like the naming of former Gov. Pat Quinn's top aide to a state agency late last year.
"This was a blatant example of appointment abuse," said state Sen. Julie Morrison, a Deerfield Democrat who said that particular appointment inspired her proposal that was signed into law by Gov. Bruce Rauner this week.
Former Quinn aide Lou Bertuca was appointed by the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority board to be its director shortly after Quinn lost the November 2014 election. The agency owns U.S. Cellular Field.
State law already puts some limits on lame-duck governors' appointments, but Morrison's new law would put the brakes on lame-duck appointments made by boards a governor controls.
Quinn appointed members of the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority board, and it named the former governor's aide to be the agency's leader.
Morrison's law would affect several high-profile agencies in addition to the sports facilities board, including the state Board of Elections, the Toll Highway Authority and Illinois Commerce Commission, which regulates utilities and the rates they charge customers.
Rauner signed the legislation without making public comment.