With his decision to eliminate funding for salaries for the state's regional school superintendents, Gov. Pat Quinn once again demonstrates his lack of judgment.

There is nothing consistent about Gov. Pat Quinn except his inconsistency. He's made that clear for months with his say-one-thing-one-day-and-another-thing-the-next approach to policy issues in state government. But he's carving it in stone with his bizarre decision to eliminate funding for the salaries of the state's 44 regional school superintendents and their assistants.

Quinn's spokeswoman said the governor cut $11 million appropriated for the regional offices for the new fiscal year that started July 1 because he wants to spend the money on education, not administration. But the money Quinn cut isn't being recycled to the classroom.

David Vaught, Quinn's budget director, further suggested that regional superintendents and their assistant superintendents should not object to going months without pay because other people routinely do that. Really? Can he name some of those forbearing souls?

Quinn's handling of this issue, however, is more than just odd. It smacks of Chicago-style bully-boy, my-way-or-the-highway politics. Unfortunately for Quinn, he's not a strong man a la House Speaker Michael Madigan. He can't pull it off.

Just Thursday, Vaught was meeting with regional superintendents in Springfield to discuss how to resolve the situation. Champaign/Ford Counties Regional Superintendent Jane Quinlan said the parties have agreed to meet again soon as part of "ongoing conversations to resolve the issue."

Here's the problem Quinn can't finesse.

Regional superintendent offices are a creature of state statute that Quinn can't wipe out with his veto pen. The governor has suggested that the superintendents find another source of revenue for their salaries, stating "we need to have that debate with the Legislature. We'll have that in the fall."

But his timing is off. Conversations of this nature must be addressed in advance with the Legislature.

The governor is not a one-man show. The General Assembly is the policy-making branch of state government. The governor enforces the laws and can't legally do so on a selective basis, as Quinn is trying to do now. He might like dictatorial authority, but he does not possess it.

It may well be that, as local state Rep. Chapin Rose suggests, there are duplications of responsibilities between the regional superintendents and the state's education office. If so, Quinn and legislators ought to look at the problem and propose a solution.

We hold no brief for regional superintendents. If their offices are unnecessary and their duties can be transferred elsewhere, the state should address the problem in a way that is both proper and permanent.

As for Quinn's assertion that state money should be spent on education rather administration, who would disagree with that empty cliche? But if the Legislature continues to pile mandates on the public schools, there will inevitably be compliance costs. Regional superintendents have many responsibilities, including certifying that school buildings meet health and safety codes, reviewing school calendars, helping train teachers, providing legal interpretations to school-related inquiries and certifying teachers.

That work will continue in the Champaign/Ford counties regional office.

Superintendent Quinlan said she and her assistant superintendent, Barb Daly, will be "providing services to our school districts" without pay until the matter is resolved.

It's good to see them display more fidelity to their jobs than Quinn shows for his.

It's also encouraging to hear that Quinn is trying to extricate himself from this self-created mess, if that is, in fact, what he is trying to do.

But here we go again. Quinn is all over the map. No wonder the General Assembly ignored him when it devised the current budget. The governor's judgment has been sorely lacking, and it's hurting the state.