Metro East Sun

Illinois' governor and lieutenant governor would operate within the same budget if a measure filed by Sen. Sam McCann (R-Plainview) passes the General Assembly and is then approved by voters.

“I believe that the Lieutenant Governor has an important role in terms of gubernatorial succession if something were ever to happen to the Governor,” McCann said in a press release. “But because they run as a pair, and because their duties are so similar and part of the same effort, this would allow them to operate under one budget, potentially increasing efficiency and decreasing costs to the taxpayers.”

The measure would combine the costs of the offices' staff and operations, with the General Assembly setting a budget commensurate with their needs. The governor and lieutenant governor’s salaries would remain separate.

“There has been a lot of talk in recent years of eliminating the Lieutenant Governor position to save costs, but there hasn’t been the political will to actually make that happen,” McCann said. “I believe this could offer the taxpayers a chance to realize similar savings even without eliminating the position.”