© 2024 NPR Illinois
The Capital's Community & News Service
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Top Republicans Propose Term Limits For Governor, Other Executive Officers

The Capitol
Brian Mackey/WUIS

  Two of Illinois' top Republicans want to limit how long someone can stay on as governor of Illinois. But they only have about two weeks to get the proposed constitutional amendment through the General Assembly.

Illinois Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) and House Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) are floating a two-term limit for the state's six top offices.

That means an eight-year tenure for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, comptroller, treasurer and secretary of state.

It's the latest plan seeking term limits in Illinois; Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner is funding an initiative that would institute limits for members of the General Assembly.

Republicans say term limits are a chance for 'fresh perspectives' in state government. Senate GOP spokeswoman Patty Schuh says the state's poor financial health speaks volumes.

"With the condition of Illinois, and the position we're in, maybe it's time to allow term limits to go to the voters," she said.

But they'll have to race against the clock to push it through, if at all.

Because Democrats control the General Assembly, they often decide when (and if) measures are called for a vote.

A spokesman for House Speaker Michael Madigan declined to comment, beyond wondering why the Republicans had waited so long to file the measure.

But Schuh says it can be done.

"It would be cutting it close, there's no doubt but ... we've seen the Democrats move a lot of legislation if they're inclined," she said.

Though the limits wouldn't begin until 2018, only two of the six executives currently 'break' those limits: Attorney General Lisa Madigan, who's been in office for 11 years, and Secretary of State Jesse White, who's been in office spans 15 years.

Hannah covers state government and politics for Capitol News Illinois. She's been dedicated to the statehouse beat since interning at NPR Illinois in 2014, with subsequent stops at WILL-AM/FM, Law360, Capitol Fax and The Daily Line before returning to NPR Illinois in 2020 and moving to CNI in 2023.
Related Stories