ECON, thank Emil Jones when your electric bill skyrockets

Citizen Utility Board is putting the best spin on it, but Illinois Senate President Emil Jones is trying to screw consumers so Commonwealth Edison can jack electricity rates 50% or more.

The Illinois House, led by Speaker Michael Madigan, did pass a bill to extend the rate freeze. Reps. Deborah Graham, Bob Molaro and Karen Yarbrough voted for the rate freeze. Reps. Bob Biggins (Republican) and Calvin Giles did not for the freeze.

(What's up with Giles? He based his primary campaign on decrying the influence peddling in Springfield and now he's voting with the utilities and against the consumers.)

See State Journal Register (Andriana Colindres) for details.

Illinois lawmakers left Springfield without an agreement on how best to help consumers who are about to be hit with double-digit increases in their residential electricity rates.

But the chances of [passing either the House or Senate bill] look slim because the top leaders in the Senate and House disagree about what lawmakers should do. Senate President Emil Jones, D-Chicago, has said he opposes a continued rate freeze, and Madigan has said he prefers a rate freeze to a phase-in plan.

I'm a little disappointed in Senator Don Harmon over this impass.

I discussed the issue with him on October 2, 2006.

Harmon explained to me that the rate freeze would get passed, but Emil Jones and Michael Madigan differed over the timing.

According to Harmon Madigan wanted it voted before the November election because it would help vulnerable House Dems. Jones, however, wanted to postpone the vote because it would be a populist issue that would help vulnerable Senate Republicans. And the Democratic candidates supported by Jones did take a number of seats from Republicans across the state.

I'd like to think Jones misled Harmon about his intentions, but it's possible Harmon succeeded in spinning me.