SPRINGFIELD - An expert on the state budget and a close ally of House Speaker Michael Madigan is poised to become state's new transportation secretary.

State Rep. Gary Hannig, a Litchfield Democrat, is expected to take over as head of the Illinois Department of Transportation as part of new Gov. Pat Quinn's shakeup of state government.

Neither Hannig nor a Quinn spokesman could be reached for comment Friday, but colleagues said the appointment was imminent.

"He'll be good," said state Sen. Deanna Demuzio, D-Carlinville.

Hannig, 56, will replace Milton Sees, who was named to the post by then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich in 2007.

The move is Quinn's latest since taking over as chief executive a month ago. He earlier replaced Kurt Granberg with Marc Miller as director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Hannig, whose 98th House District stretches from Taylorville to Staunton, has been a member of the General Assembly since 1979. In recent years he has carved out a key role as the top budget writer for Madigan.

Unlike Sees, Hannig is not an engineer. He has an accounting degree from the University of Illinois.

Although Hannig's understanding of the inner workings of the state budget won him praise from colleagues, some lawmakers expressed concern about Hannig's experience.

"He doesn't have a background not only in engineering but really any transportation-related area," said Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno, R-Lemont. "Hopefully he'll have to surround himself with people that do have strong professional backgrounds in engineering, mass transit, road building."

"I am somewhat surprised that the governor didn't choose someone who is an engineer," said state Sen. Larry Bomke, a Springfield Republican who is the ranking Republican on the Senate Transportation Committee.

But, added Bomke, "There's probably no one better with numbers than Gary."

Among issues Hannig will have to grapple with is Blagojevich's proposed move of more than 100 IDOT jobs from Springfield to Harrisburg. The issue remains mired in legal proceedings, but could be overturned or altered by Quinn now with both Blagojevich and Sees gone.

State Sen. Gary Forby, D-Benton, who supports the transfer of the jobs, said he plans on talking with both Hannig and Quinn about the issue.

"I will ask him what he's got in mind," Forby said. "I haven't really pressed the governor on this too much because I know the budget is his big issue right now."

Bomke, who opposes the move, said he plans to lobby Quinn to overturn Blagojevich's proposal.

Radogno said it is important to have a top notch IDOT secretary because of the influx of federal economic stimulus money, as well as the possibility that lawmakers could finally agree on a statewide construction program.

"We need to be sure who ever is in that position is fair and evenhanded with that," Radogno said.