Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan should allow the House to vote on a proposed amendment that would merge the offices of comptroller and treasurer.

Here, in a nutshell, is one of the major flaws in Illinois state government: state legislators aren't independent; they've allowed themselves to become mere extensions of their party's leadership.

That's not exactly a revelation to those who pay attention to what happens in Springfield. But to most people, it's a shock, one that comes with costly consequences. Here's an egregious example.

Illinois is in desperate financial shape, and it's looking for ways to save money without cutting services. The state has just been through a rough budget review process, and people all over Illinois have raised serious concerns about some of the cuts that were necessary for the General Assembly to pass a balanced budget on to the governor.

But there's one cut that wouldn't make much difference in terms of reduced services to the people of Illinois. Plus, it would save $12 million year. But the plan is stuck in a House committee because one legislator — a very important legislator — is opposed.

Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka and Treasurer Dan Rutherford ran for state office last year on an unusual platform. They pledged to work together to merge their two offices into one, thereby increasing efficiency and saving money.

It will take a constitutional amendment approved by the people for their plan to become law.

The Illinois Senate unanimously approved the proposed amendment, and there are literally dozens of co-sponsors of the proposal in the House. But the measure is frozen in the House Rules Committee because House Speaker Michael Madigan, the all-powerful Chicago Democrat, does not like the idea.

Since Madigan doesn't like it, the issue is closed. For the matter to reopen, he'll have to change his mind. Indeed, a spokeswoman for Rutherford's office said the treasurer is trying to persuade Madigan of the merits.

Here's another alternative: How about persuading Madigan to simply let the full House vote on the idea?

In Illinois, allowing legislators to actually legislate is what passes for novel.

The legislative leaders of the Democratic and Republican parties in Illinois possess disproportionate authority in the legislative process, most especially the Democratic leaders because they are the majority party in the House and Senate.

Mostly, individual legislators rubber-stamp the decisions party leaders make.

It's just the way business is done. People even joke about it. The legislative leaders are jokingly described as the "Four Tops." Rank-and-file legislators are jokingly called the "mushrooms" (kept in the dark and covered with manure).

But it's really not funny. Indeed, it's a perversion of the legislative process for so much power to be concentrated in the hands of so few.

It is, of course, perfectly appropriate for Speaker Madigan to oppose the proposed merger of the treasurer's and comptroller's offices for whatever reasons he chooses. It is not appropriate for Madigan to block a vote by the full House because he opposes the plan.

The people of Illinois are looking for the best government they can get at the least cost. The proposed merger is one way to help achieve that goal.

The Senate already has approved the merger amendment. Madigan should allow the House to vote as well. Then voters can make up their own minds about whether to accept or reject the idea when they vote on amending the Illinois Constitution.