The leaders of the Illinois House and Senate sued Gov. Pat Quinn,
claiming he illegally used a line-item veto to "entirely eliminate"
lawmakers' salaries as punishment for not passing pension reforms.
Illinois Senate President John Cullerton and Speaker of the House Michael Madigan sued Gov. Quinn and state Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka, in Cook County Court.
All three men are Democrats.
In high dudgeon, the complaint states: "Not since Governor Blagojevich attempted to reduce the salaries of Illinois judges in 2003 have the actions of the Executive Branch so threatened the independence of a co-equal branch of government. On July 10, 2013, Governor Pat Quinn exercised his line-item veto power on an appropriations bill by attempting to entirely eliminate General Assembly members' salaries, despite unmistakable constitutional protection of those salaries. Just as the Illinois Constitution of 1970 protects the right of each judge to receive a salary and not have their salary reduced during their term of office, the Constitution also requires that each legislator receive a salary and prohibits 'changes' in the salaries of legislators during their terms of office. The Illinois Supreme Court invalidated Governor Blagojevich's actions that threatened the independence and integrity of the Judiciary, and this court should likewise invalidate Governor Quinn's attempt to punish members of the General Assembly by completely eliminating their salaries.
http://www.courthousenews.com/2013/08/01/59892.htm
Illinois Senate President John Cullerton and Speaker of the House Michael Madigan sued Gov. Quinn and state Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka, in Cook County Court.
All three men are Democrats.
In high dudgeon, the complaint states: "Not since Governor Blagojevich attempted to reduce the salaries of Illinois judges in 2003 have the actions of the Executive Branch so threatened the independence of a co-equal branch of government. On July 10, 2013, Governor Pat Quinn exercised his line-item veto power on an appropriations bill by attempting to entirely eliminate General Assembly members' salaries, despite unmistakable constitutional protection of those salaries. Just as the Illinois Constitution of 1970 protects the right of each judge to receive a salary and not have their salary reduced during their term of office, the Constitution also requires that each legislator receive a salary and prohibits 'changes' in the salaries of legislators during their terms of office. The Illinois Supreme Court invalidated Governor Blagojevich's actions that threatened the independence and integrity of the Judiciary, and this court should likewise invalidate Governor Quinn's attempt to punish members of the General Assembly by completely eliminating their salaries.
http://www.courthousenews.com/2013/08/01/59892.htm
No comments:
Post a Comment