(Chicago, IL)  –  A legislative review is the next step for Illinois Governor Pat Quinn’s plan to sell the Thomson prison to the federal government to house terrorism suspect currently being held at Guantanamo Bay.

And Quinn says he’s looking forward to that “advice.”

But one of the members of the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, or COGFA,  said Monday that the opinion from the panel of lawmakers is more than just “advice.”

State senator Dave Syverson, (R-Rockford) says after the battles with former governor Rod Blagojevich, lawmakers and legislative leaders have made it clear that COGFA is more than just an “advisory panel.”

He says any governor would be wise to listen to the will of the commission.

Syverson says he COGFA may call for a hearing soon on the “concept” of selling the nearly empty prison.

But he is quick to say he doesn’t think the reported price tag of $120-million is enough.  Syverson says the state still owes $80-million on construction bonds for the Thomson prison.  And he says it would cost close to $200-million to build a new correctional center.

Syverson says if the Quinn administration and the federal Bureau of Prisons can come to terms on the right price, there shouldn’t be too much opposition from state lawmakers.

But lawmakers could have to vote on a number of issues related to the sale of the prison.

Syverson says the General Assembly may have to weigh in on contractual issues or questions about what to do with the Illinois inmates currently at the prison.

At the heart of the debate is what Syverson says questions about the governor’s “legal” obligation and “moral” obligation to include lawmakers in sale.

Syverson says the legislature “needs to be a partner” with Quinn.

Syverson admits there is always going to be some concern about the “risk” involved in accepting terror suspects now housed at Guantanamo Bay.  Quinn said at a Monday news conference those concerns have gotten too much attention.

Quinn says if the state sells Thomson, it would then become a federal facility.  And he says no one has ever escaped from a federal prison.  Though a search of federal records do show a handful of escapes from federal prisons over the years.

The plan for Thomson includes a number of security upgrades, including a new exterior fence and new guard positions.  All terror suspects would also be segregated inside the prison.  Officials have said it will become a “super super-max” facility.

Quinn is not saying when he expects to know if the feds will buy Thomson.  He has said he expects “quick” action.  Syverson doesn’t have any guesses about a timeline either.  Though he says “quick” is open to interpretation.

The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability is set to meet today in Chicago.  Syverson says members may set a date for a hearing on Thomson then.