Article Options

Officials debate merits of a new constitutional convention

BY BLACKWELL THOMAS, The Southern

Wednesday, October 15, 2008 6:12 PM CDT

CARBONDALE — The upcoming constitutional convention referendum isn’t grabbing headlines like the presidential race but it may well be just as important a vote for Illinoisans, Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn said Wednesday.

Speaking at a forum on the campus of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Quinn presented a proponent’s view of the constitutional convention referendum, which gives Illinois voters the opportunity to open up the state’s guiding legal document to an overhaul every 20 years.

The last convention was held in 1970 and, for his part, Quinn hopes voters give the referendum a thumbs up this time around.

Illinois’ political gridlock is the result of not only poor leadership, said Quinn, but a failed system which is rooted in the state’s constitution.

“We’ve had 30 years of not getting relief for school funding and property tax relief, are we going to wait another 20?” he said. “It’s naïve to think that legislators, on their own, will reform themselves. The insiders are happy with the way things are going. They are not going to reform themselves; it’s going to be up to everyday people to roll up their sleeves and do it.”

Opposite from Quinn on stage and on the issue of a convention, was former State Rep. Jeff Mays, a Republican from Quincy who is now president of the Illinois Business Roundtable. The conversation between the two was moderated by Jennifer Fuller a morning anchor for WSIU.

Mays agreed that Springfield was in dire need of reform but he said a constitutional convention is not the way to go about change. Mays said holding a convention in the current political climate where rancor and gridlock pervade, is a poisonous atmosphere for such a serious undertaking.

“It’s illogical to assume that (political acrimony) wouldn’t translate into the convention,” he said. “The constitution should not be a statutory compendium for the issues du jour. It’s more important than that.”

Prior to Quinn and Mays taking the stag, four members of the 1970 constitutional convention sat and discussed the successes and failures of that document.

Fomer SIUC professor, David Kenney and Marion Mayor Bob Butler were joined by John Alexander, a former college teacher from Virden and Mary Lee Leahy a lawyer and former head of the Illinois Environmental Protection agency who has argued cases before the U.S. Supreme Court.

While panelists each offered their view on whether they would vote yes or no on a new convention the panel each took turns criticizing the leadership of state of government.

Butler summed up their thoughts and drew a chuckle from the crowd at the same time when he said: “People generally get the government they deserve.”