Biggins breaks with GOP votes to pass Quinn borrowing plan

Rick Pearson Chicago Tribune

For 17 years, Elmhurst's Bob Biggins has been a reliable House Republican vote, but his decision Tuesday to join Democrats in favor of a $4 billion pension borrowing plan is earning the lame-duck lawmaker some blowback from GOP officials.

Biggins, who decided not to seek re-election this fall, was called out by state Republican Chairman Pat Brady today as having “some explaining to do.” Brady contends there are questions of whether Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn made an “offer in exchange” for Biggins’ vote.

Biggins did not attend a closed-door caucus of House Republicans prior to the vote, but instead was in the governor’s office. Biggins, however, has denied being offered anything in return for his vote.

But colleagues, who had locked themselves in opposition to the pension borrowing plan, weren’t happy with Biggins, long a protégé of former House Republican leader Lee Daniels of Elmhurst. State Rep. Jim Sacia, R-Pecatonica, saw Biggins being interviewed by reporters in Springfield following Tuesday's vote and said loudly and angrily, “Two-faced son of a (expletive).”

Biggins was not the only retiring Republican House member to vote for the plan, which passed with a bare majority of 71 votes. Rep. Bill Black of Danville, a 24-year state lawmaker and member of the House GOP leadership, also voted for the measure.

Brady, the state GOP chairman, said Black was not singled out for criticism because he attended the House GOP caucus while Biggins skipped it for a meeting in Quinn’s office.

“That’s what raises questions,” Brady said. “I think questions have been raised. We just want to know.”

Biggins said Brady should call him for his reasons for voting instead of issuing critical news releases.

"When the GOP has the guts to call me and ask me why I voted for it, I'll provide them with the answer for this fiscally responsible vote," Biggins said. "The Republican position was fiscally unsound."

Biggins said he was asked to meet with Quinn chief of staff Jerry Stermer during the House GOP caucus and did so. "Nothing was offered and he didn't even try to talk me into" voting for it, Biggins said.

http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2010/05/suburban-lawmaker-facing-republican-backlash-for-pension-borrowing-vote.html