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CUB Condemns Senate Rejection Of
CHICAGO, Nov. 3 , 2005 — The Illinois Senate's vote to reject the
nomination of the first consumer advocate to head the Illinois Commerce
Commission (ICC) - the first ICC appointment ever rejected by the senate - is a
slap in the face of consumers across Illinois, the Citizens Utility Board (CUB)
said Thursday.
Pro-Consumer ICC Chief
"At a time when we have record gas prices, record heating bills and are facing billions of dollars in electric rate hikes, the senate's vote today sends the wrong message to consumers," CUB Executive Director David Kolata said. "The truth is that ComEd and the other utilities would have gotten a fairer hearing from Marty Cohen than consumers usually get from the ICC." In the three weeks since his nomination, Cohen has endured a relentless, public attack by ComEd and others determined to stop his appointment. ComEd alone has close to $1 billion in rate hikes at stake and the company fears an ICC chairman who would be fair to consumers when deciding those cases. With Cohen at the helm of CUB, the organization grew into the largest and most respected utility watchdog organization in the nation. He is a nationally recognized expert on utility and consumer issues and understands Illinois' complicated utility regulations better that most commissioners have when they were seated. Kolata commended Gov. Rod Blagojevich for the appointment and for sticking with it during a tough confirmation battle. He said he expects the governor will stick to his guns and appoint another chairman who will be equally sympathetic to consumers. CUB is a nonprofit statewide utility watchdog organization created by the state legislature to represent the interests of residential and small-business utility customers. For more information about CUB and its efforts to protect consumers over the last 22 years, visit http://www.CitizensUtilityBoard.org or call CUB's Consumer Hotline at 1-800-669-5556. Minneapolis City Pages - November 22, 2005 Nice work if you can get it Chicago Tribune - November 18, 2005 When you open up those utility bills... Editorial - John McCarron Chicago Tribune - November 13, 2005 Getting dumped I'm now a footnote in Illinois history: the first ICC commissioner ever to be denied confirmation By Martin R. Cohen Chicago Public Radio - November 3, 2005 Lawmakers Reject Cohen as Head of I.C.C. CHICAGO (2005-11-03) Governor Blagojevich's nomination of former consumer advocate Martin Cohen as chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission was rejected by state lawmakers. Chicago Public Radio's Lynette Kelsnes reports. Listen to the Story. By Lynette Kelsnes Chicago Tribune - November 8, 2005 Sleight of hand stabbed hopeful for ICC in back By Eric Zorn Chicago Tribune - November 5, 2005 Shredded strategy Martin Cohen's nomination as ICC chief falls to concerns about his impartiality toward utilities Blagojevich, Democratic leaders want strong pro-consumer credentials By Christi Parsons and Robert Manor Peoria Journal Star - November 5, 2005 Cohen not fazed by ICC loss Former nominee says he will continue to explore public policy options By Adriana Colindres U.S. Newswire - November 4, 2005 Consumer and Labor Groups to Launch Grassroots Campaign Against Proposed ComEd Rate Hike Contact: Kate Franco, 312-408-2580, ext. 14 or Mike Truppa, 312-408-2580, ext. 12, both of Valerie Denney Communications ABC7Chicago.com - November 3, 2005 State senate rejects Blago's ICC chair nominee Cohen: 'It's about big money and politics' By Andy Shaw Chicago Tribune - November 4, 2005 Consumer advocate rejected as ICC chief Senate spurns Blagojevich on utility regulator By Christi Parsons and Robert Manor Peoria Journal Star - November 4, 2005 Cohen blames rejection on politics Senate blocks his appointment as Commerce Commission chief By Adriana Colindres Rockford Register Star - November 4, 2005 Senate rejects nominee for ICC By Aaron Chambers Springfield State Journal Register - November 4, 2005 Cohen rejected for ICC chairman Former CUB chief blames 'rancid' money and politics By Adriana Colindres Chicago Sun-Times - November 4, 2005 Rejected nominee calls vote 'rancid' By Dave McKinney and Mary Wisniewski Chicago Sun-Times - November 3, 2005 Lawmakers reject ICC nominee By Ryan Keith Reuters - November 3, 2005 Illinois Senate rejects utility commission head By Ryan Keith Yes votes were votes in favor of appointing Martin Cohen to the ICC. Nay and Present Votes were votes against his appointment. There were 28 votes in favor of the appointment and 31 votes against. Read related articles on the vote. |