Won't sign STAR bond bill? Then veto it

Proponents of the STAR bond bill seem confident that Gov. Pat Quinn supports it, but we wonder.

The bill, SB 1909, was sent to Quinn on June 30, yet almost a month later he still ha not signed it. A spokesman said last week that it is still under review.

Maybe Quinn has been too busy to get to it, or maybe he shares our reservations that this bill was rushed too quickly.

Bruce Holland, who plans to use the bonds to help fund the proposed University Town Center in Glen Carbon, points to the jobs the project would create. However, the bonds would also siphon off sales tax dollars at a time when Illinois is desperate for revenue. And it might be a drain on other new and existing sales tax-generating businesses.

This bill will become law after 60 days if Quinn does nothing, but letting it go into effect that way would be shirking responsibility. If Quinn is unwilling to affix his name to the STAR bonds bill, then he should veto it.