The special legislative session Thursday in Springfield could lead to a special election for comptroller in 2016. State Sen. Matt Murphy (R-Palatine) says the future of the comptroller's and treasurer's offices should be consolidation.
“I'd just hate for us to get bogged down in a legal battle over this and take our eye of the ball,” which, Murphy says, would be the combination of the two offices, via a constitutional amendment he wants the Senate president to call Thursday.
Gov. Pat Quinn, who leaves office Monday, wants the legislature Thursday to approve a special election to give Illinois voters a chance to choose a comptroller halfway through the term that Judy Baar Topinka never got a chance to begin.
Topinka, who died last month shortly after her re-election as comptroller, had advocated for the consolidation, which, supporters say, could be called “Judy's Amendment.” That would take passage by both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly and then ratification by Illinois voters.
Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner, who wants the ability to appoint a comptroller for a full four-year term, has named Leslie Munger, the unsuccessful Republican challenger to State Rep. Carol Sente (D-Vernon Hills), to take the oath of office as comptroller Monday.
