It’s Gov Lite time.
But we’re not talking about beer, diet soda, or lo-cal meals.
This is the quadrennial ritual that features candidates for Illinois governor announcing their running mates for lieutenant governor — aka Gov Lite or Lite Gov — an elective office that’s the political equivalent of an ice salesman at the North Pole.
Or, as the late Chicago weatherman P.J. Hoff put it: “Vice president in charge of looking out the window.”
But superfluous or not, some candidates have already picked their partners, others are still going over their dance cards, and all are playing the same game: Find someone who provides racial, ethnic or geographical balance, and has deep enough pockets to help fund the campaign.
That’s the politics.
But we’re interested in the economics.
The Better Government Association isn’t calling for the elimination of the lieutenant governor’s position, but it’s definitely on our watch list as we consider ways to downsize and streamline a state with the most tax-eating units of government in the country.
Others are ready to toss Gov Lite in the recycling bin now, including the Illinois House, which voted overwhelmingly in April to dump the office, calling it a “luxury” our cash-strapped state can no longer afford.
If the bill passes the Senate this fall, the next step could be a referendum on the November 2014 ballot.
Then it would be up to us, the voters.
With a salary of $118,000 and an office budget of nearly $2 million, Gov Lite is essentially an expensive insurance policy.
The state constitution says the major responsibility is to take over if the governor dies, resigns, or in the case of Rod Blagojevich, gets impeached and ousted by the General Assembly.
Aside from playing the waiting game, the office is without portfolio, so its occupants mostly fill their days pursuing pet legislative or policy agendas, and teeing up runs for offices with more distinct duties and real power.
That hasn’t been enough for some recent Lite Govs. One quit because he was bored, and another threatened to resign and become a radio host, but changed his mind and stayed on.
As for Pat Quinn, he actually liked the job and recommends keeping the office. Why not? He got to pursue the gadfly agenda he’s always enjoyed, take over the governor’s office when Blagojevich was kicked out, and keep it by winning the 2010 election.
But it’s worth noting that while Quinn completed Blago’s second term, the Lite Gov’s office went dark and no one even noticed.
The current occupant, Sheila Simon, also wants to keep the post around, but she’s exiting to run for another office.
Nationally, five states don’t have a lieutenant governor, so they either tap a Senate president or a secretary of state to replace a governor who leaves office.
The proposed Illinois bill, which would take effect in 2019, makes the Illinois attorney general the successor.
Whatever.
Our takeaway is that Illinois continues to be a safe haven for thousands of unnecessary taxpayer-supporter jobs, and the generous perks and benefits that come with them, including unaffordable pensions.
So maybe it’s time to let the voters decide if Gov Lite is a superfluous anachronism that should be relocated from the State Capitol to a shelf at a corner bar.
Andy Shaw is President & CEO of the Better Government Association. Email ashaw@bettergov.org.Twitter @andyshawbga.
