By Kathy Bergen
and Ray Long
| House Speaker Michael Madigan proposed modest revisions to the McCormick
Place overhaul legislation this morning, reflecting some issues that
had been raised by Gov. Pat Quinn.
But it’s still possible the governor may attempt to use his amendatory
veto power later today to push for more dramatic changes, sources said.
Madigan’s follow-up bill, which won approval of a key House committee this morning, would give the General Assembly the ability to remove the designated trustee, Jim Reilly, who currently chairs the Regional Transportation Authority. If the trustee could not serve the full 18-month term specified in the original legislation, the governor could appoint a successor, with Senate approval.
Quinn had voiced concern that the original bill did not include sufficient oversight of the trustee and that it lacked a succession plan.
The follow-up bill also would allow existing employees of the agency that runs McCormick Place to be employed by a subsequent private management firm, as long as they did not participate in the awarding of the contract to the firm.
And it includes language that attempts to strengthen the state’s assertion that it can impose work rules on trades people at McCormick Place, whose collective bargaining agreements with private employers.
While this bill moves to the full House, the governor continues to consider whether to attempt an amendatory veto on the existing legislation, which passed both houses by wide, bi-partisan margins earlier this month.
An amendatory veto, which would require approval by the General Assembly, could include some significant changes, sources said.
Among the revisions being weighed by the governor is the removal of Jim Reilly’s name as the designated trustee, and language that would give Quinn the ability to make that appointment, with Senate approval.
It also could include elimination of the proposed hike on airport ground transportation fees. Those hikes would provide additional funding for marketing McCormick Place and the convention center in Rosemont.
And the amendatory veto could revive an earlier proposal to reduce the number of union jurisdictions working the show-floor at McCormick Place, with the aim of easing hassle and confusion for exhibitors, sources said. The two unions likely to lose out would be the riggers and decorators, sources said.
Bob Reed, a spokesman for the governor, declined to say whether an amendatory veto was expected to be proposed today. “The governor continues to review the [McCormick Place overhaul] bill and looks forward to a good outcome,” he said.
Even so, an amendatory veto may not be fully embraced.
“The General Assembly has gone on record supporting the comprehensive bill that was a result of bi-partisan discussion to make McCormick Place competitive,” said Patricia Schuh, a spokeswoman for Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno, R-Lemont. “I don’t see that either chamber is going to want to stick with the governor.”
