Illinois Comptroller Leslie Geissler Munger on Monday said legislation passed by the General Assembly and signed by the Governor will allow her office to swiftly process payments for local governments, 911 emergency phone services, Lottery winners and domestic violence shelters.

Approved by the House last week, SB2039 unanimously passed the Senate Monday, and was signed by Governor Bruce Rauner.

“In four days we are going to put a new governor in, and
just on the eve of that we are stripping him of some of his
constitutional executive authority..." ~ Leader Jim Durkin

Democrats gave speedy approval Thursday to a measure that would require a special election to fill part of the term left vacant after the death of Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka, as Republicans railed against the move as a power grab aimed at undermining Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner as he prepares to take office.

The move foreshadowed what could be a combative relationship between Rauner and Democrats who run the legislature as Republicans assume control of the governor's office for the first time in 12 years.

The legislation, which was pushed through during a special session called by Senate President John Cullerton and House Speaker Michael Madigan, would effectively limit Rauner's comptroller pick to two years in office instead of four before facing voters. Departing Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn indicated he would sign the bill before leaving office Monday.

Under the measure, if a statewide constitutional office becomes vacant with more than 28 months remaining in the term, a special election to fill the spot would be held during the next statewide election. In this case, voters would get to pick a new comptroller during the 2016 election — a presidential election year in which Democrats in Illinois typically perform well at the polls.

That political realty wasn't lost on Republicans, who accused Democrats of a last-minute power grab before Rauner is sworn in. Read the entire story in the Chicago Tribune.

Republican Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner on Monday picked a former corporate executive from the north suburbs to fill the comptroller term left vacant following the death of Judy Baar Topinka.

Leslie Geissler Munger of Lincolnshire is a former executive at Helene Curtis/Unilever who unsuccessfully ran against Democratic Rep. Carol Sente in the November election. Munger will be sworn in on Jan. 12, shortly after Rauner himself takes the oath of office.

“No one can ever replace Judy Baar Topinka, but Leslie is the perfect candidate to continue building on Judy’s legacy,” Rauner said in a statement. “Leslie has always been laser focused on fiscal and economic issues, and as Comptroller, she will do everything within her power to help fix our state’s broken finances.” Read more in the Chicago Tribune.

Illinois Comptroller – Succession

Quinn appoints Stermer Comptroller; Rauner to appoint for full term.  The incumbent and recently-reelected Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka passed away on Wednesday, December 10.   A legal consensus calls for her office to be refilled in stages.  In the first stage, urgently required to carry on essential State cash flow business, departing Gov. Pat Quinn named longtime aide Jerry Stermer as temporary Comptroller on Friday, December 19 to serve the remaining days of Topinka’s first term.  Stermer will voluntarily step down as Comptroller on January 12, 2015.

The second stage of replacing Topinka will cover the four-year term for which she was elected in November 2014, starting on January 12, 2015 (the inauguration day for Illinois statewide elected officials).  The Constitution has given Governor-elect Bruce Rauner the right to make an appointment during this four-year period.  The newly-appointed Comptroller will have the heavy responsibility of supervising the State’s money during a time of unprecedented demands on the cash flow of the State.  Topinka revealed, before her death, that the State’s total of unpaid bills had climbed above $6 billion (Monthly Money Matters).