* My Sun-Times column this week is ultimately about the governor’s involvement in the House’s gun control debate, but this is how it begins…
Gov. Rod Blagojevich playfully told me in April that he had come up with a theme for his epic battle with Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. At the time, Madigan was blocking the governor’s (now dead) gross receipts tax on business and didn’t seem thrilled with Blagojevich’s desire to spend billions on a universal health insurance plan.
The governor said he had cast himself in the role of Robin Hood. Madigan, of course, was the villainous Sheriff of Nottingham.
“Wonderful,” I thought. “This legislative session will never end.”
And here we are, more than three months later, stuck in a nasty overtime session that has Blagojevich repeatedly slamming Madigan as a “right-wing Republican” and threatening to take him to court over the speaker’s refusal to obey the starting times in the governor’s special session proclamations. Two legislators have publicly called for the governor’s impeachment, a Downstate newspaper has claimed that Blagojevich is “going bonkers,” and one of Blagojevich’s fellow Chicago Democrats told reporters that the governor is a “madman” and “insane.”
And that’s just in the past week.
* Via IlliniPundit, Democratic state Sen. Michael Frerichs had some keen insights into what’s going on in his caucus…
“The Governor put out this big legislative proposal that has next to no legislative support, but he continues to hold on and say, ‘Hey, we can all go home as soon as you vote for my budget,’” Frerichs said. “It’s clear that that’s his tactic: to keep us away from our families and our other jobs, for those who have other jobs, until we’re sick and tired and we’re willing to cave in.” […]
If anyone breaks the budget logjam, Frerichs said, it will have to be Senate President Emil Jones, D-Chicago.
“I think it’s up to the Senate president to say, ‘I’ve hung with you, but it hasn’t gotten us anywhere. My members have these priorities - education funding, proper funding of pensions, property tax relief - and if you’re not willing to get those, then I’ll go work with the speaker and we’ll override your veto.’
“If that happens, then the governor really becomes irrelevant. If you can get those four legislative leaders to get together, it will make the next three years very interesting.”
He said the Senate Democrats have urged Jones to break with Blagojevich, “but the whole caucus has not spoken with any unanimity yet.”
* But Andy Shaw made a good point in a story he filed yesterday…
The irony here is that Blagojevich’s ambitious plans, and his style, go over well with regular people, but not the politicians in Springfield that he needs to get along with the pass a budget. The governor says he is willing to compromise and wait a year to implement his programs if that makes it easier on lawmakers. But a spokesman for Speaker Madigan says that doesn’t make any sense either because the same people still have to cast the same votes.
* The Bloomington Pantagraph published yet another negative editorial on Blagojevich…
He told the Associated Press that the current situation is “totally what I envisioned was going to happen in January, February and March” and things may get more publicly testy “as the days and weeks unfold.”
Weeks? May we remind the governor that the current 30-day budget extension only has about a couple of weeks left?
Oh yeah, we forgot, the governor who “envisioned” as long ago as January that the current situation would exist said he hasn’t “thought that far ahead” when asked if he would go along with another 30-day extension.
Illinois needs and deserves better leadership than it is getting. Lawmakers of both parties must fill the void left by the governor.
* And the AP looks at the pros and cons of the massive legislative meetings that were held at the governor’s mansion the past several days…
Sen. Terry Link, a top lieutenant to Senate President Emil Jones, said House members seem to be learning basic information that senators have already gotten from their leaders.
“It seems over there that these House members have been asking questions that basically I think could be read in newspapers almost,” said Link, D-Vernon Hills. “For a learning curve for them, it’s good.”
Madigan, who along with Republicans have opposed Blagojevich’s spending plans, said Monday he considered the legislator meetings “very productive.”
“They can see that these positions being advanced by the administration are not consistent with reality,” Madigan said.
Blagojevich counters that it gives House Democrats a chance to see the “right-wing Republican” views being advocated by Madigan, who opposes the governor’s call for a major new health care program.
- So Ill - Friday, Jul 13, 07 @ 9:42 am:
Rich, really enjoyed your column today. Just thought I’d let you know.
- He makes Ryan Look like a Saint - Friday, Jul 13, 07 @ 9:56 am:
I think they are more like the Road Runner (Madigan) and Wile E Coyote (The GOV). The coyote always comes up with hairbrain ideas to out smart the Road Runner only to fail.
- Reddbyrd - Friday, Jul 13, 07 @ 9:56 am:
Pretty sure Rich did not hear the Governor right. Based on the actions of Mr. I.M. NotInsane, I think he meant that he is Robin and Madigan is Batman.
BTW
As Robin drags his feet on predatory lending reform, the Attorney General is sending out notices on how much consumers will get from her victory over Blaggo donor/ grant getter — Ameriquest.
Nice compare and contrast to start the day.
p.s. Is Link drinking the same silly sauce Sen. Jacobs passes around?
- Skeeter - Friday, Jul 13, 07 @ 9:59 am:
Those are interesting stories, but I think another one should have been mentioned. I am not a big fan of the Chicago Tribune’s Springfield coverage, but Pearson (spelling?) wrote a great article yesterday which sums up the battle.
According to Pearson, this is a battle for the future of the Democratic Party. Is the party going the big government, heavy social services route that Blago wants to go, or is the party in Illinois going to go moderate to fiscal conservative as Madigan is leading?
Pearson’s idea, and I am inclined to agree, is that this debate is more than just Blago acting strange. It is a real battle over ideas and directions, and shows the real divisions that exist within the Democratic Party nationally.
- Wumpus - Friday, Jul 13, 07 @ 10:39 am:
Goodness Rod thinks were are stupid. This is a plan to make Lisa look great.
- Anon from BB - Friday, Jul 13, 07 @ 10:48 am:
Next time Blagojevich pulls out the tired canard of “right wing Republican” in relation to Madigan, I’d like to see Madigan pull a Ronald Reagan and say “There you go again…”
- Lula May - Friday, Jul 13, 07 @ 10:49 am:
At first this budget battle was funny. But now I think the public is just sick of Rod’s childish behavior. Cut it out. It’s just plain stupid.
- ids - Friday, Jul 13, 07 @ 11:05 am:
Andy Shaw’s point is baseless, as far as I can see. What ‘regular people’ is he talking about, what poll, what??? Just a pundit talking out of his arse?
- S.O.S. - Save Our State - Friday, Jul 13, 07 @ 11:12 am:
Anyone else think that leadership has gone to Terry Link’s head? He was a pretty nice guy. But I have noticed this year a definite arrogance from him. That’s too bad.
- So Ill - Friday, Jul 13, 07 @ 11:36 am:
ids — probably the polls that elected the guy twice. I’m just saying.
- Jaded - Friday, Jul 13, 07 @ 11:53 am:
Ok, so we can’t call the guy names (like insane, madman, or blithering idiot) but he can sit around and fantasize about being Robin Hood to Madigan’s Sheriff of Nottingham. If you sit back for a minute and think about this you can’t help but laugh.
This is a grown man and twice elected Governor of this state who who is pretending to be Robin Hood. Does that make Hoffman little John, and who the heck is Friar Tuck?
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jul 13, 07 @ 11:58 am:
Huffman is Friar Tuck.
Senate President Jones might be considered by some to be Maid Marion.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jul 13, 07 @ 12:00 pm:
And, besides that, notice that I wrote “playfully.”
It’s a joke.
- Bill - Friday, Jul 13, 07 @ 12:02 pm:
You are in trouble now,Miller!
- some former legislative intern - Friday, Jul 13, 07 @ 12:17 pm:
again, the only right wing Republican to speak of is Blagojevich. He wants to spend us into never ending debt, like Republicans have done nationally, and he is the one who admitted voting for Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.
- i d - Friday, Jul 13, 07 @ 12:19 pm:
The fact that the legislative branch is still including the governor in their constitutional process is beyond me. However, having acknowledged that I have no political savvy, I do not choose to ignore the steaming, stinking pile of entrails from the body of the constitution thrown aside in name of politics
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Friday, Jul 13, 07 @ 12:21 pm:
Skeeter is on-point. There are two schools of thought in the Democratic Party.
Rod Blagojevich comes from the old school of thought: Big government programs, often not well thought out, but that have popular appeal. How you pay for them, or even if you really have a way to pay for them, is not important.
Mike Madigan represents a different approach. Call it the Paul Simon (do we have a balanced budget?)/Patrick Moynihan (Yeah, I know it sounds good, but does it actually WORK?)approach. Nothing wrong with big government programs, but they need to be well-thought, and you have to have a realistic plan to pay for them.
I’m with Madigan. Big government programs that are rife with corruption or don’t deliver on their promises only feed into the arguments of right wing, anti-government types. And while the public used to not care too much about your plan to pay for everything, they care a great deal now. Saddling future generations with debt is something folks really won’t stomach anymore.
Ironically, the best comparison to Blagojevich’s “Illinois Covered” proposal is the Bush Prescription Drug Plan: under-studied, over-promised, unaffordable. Oh yeah, and while the Bush plan represents the largest taxpayer giveaway to the pharmaceutical companies in US history, “Illinois Covered” represents the largest taxpayer giveaway to insurance companies in Illinois history. No wonder the insurance companies are for it.
- Jaded - Friday, Jul 13, 07 @ 12:22 pm:
sfli,
It is tough to insult right wing Republicans, but I think you just did.
I’m sorry Rich, your right, it is a joke. Unfortunately we have at least three more years left of this joke.
- ids - Friday, Jul 13, 07 @ 12:33 pm:
So Ill,
What about the polls that elected all the House and Senate members that think he’s insane? Beside, I don’t remember him running on these ‘ambitious plans’, certainly not the GRT.
- Squideshi - Friday, Jul 13, 07 @ 1:53 pm:
“The irony here is that Blagojevich’s ambitious plans, and his style, go over well with regular people, but not the politicians in Springfield that he needs to get along with the pass a budget.”
Come again Andy? Blagojevich has ambitious plans and style that “go over well with regular people?” I don’t think so. Way off base there.
“Blagojevich counters that it gives House Democrats a chance to see the ‘right-wing Republican’ views being advocated by Madigan, who opposes the governor’s call for a major new health care program.”
There goes Blagojevich trying to build consensus again, just like he says he’s trying to do. I know that in my experience it always helps to call a Democrat a right-wing Republican when I want them to work with me on an issue (note sarcasm.) I guess this is part of that style that goes over well with regular people, eh Andy Shaw?
“Is the party going the big government, heavy social services route that Blago wants to go, or is the party in Illinois going to go moderate to fiscal conservative as Madigan is leading?”
Madigan is no fiscal conservative when it comes to accepting, hoarding, and doling out corporate campaign cash. I think he’s less interested in being conservative than he is in protecting the interests of those who pay for him to be there.
“Skeeter is on-point. There are two schools of thought in the Democratic Party.”
This depends on how you choose to divide up the party. For example, there are machine Democrats, like Madigan AND Blagojevich; and there are so-called independents, like Dick Simpson and the old-school IVI-IPO people. From where I am standing, however, no matter what “faction” of the Democratic, they’re all part of a corporate sponsored party that has trouble representing actual real, breathing, living PEOPLE, rather than the artificial legal fictions that are corporations.
- So Ill - Friday, Jul 13, 07 @ 2:18 pm:
ids, you’re exactly right. That’s what Shaw and I are saying…Blagojevich’s strength is promoting major programs that appeal to the average voter, which is what he did. He expected those same tactics to work with legislators, which they won’t and aren’t.
Left with nothing, the Governor has begun to grasp at more random straws, which also aren’t working.
- Captain America - Friday, Jul 13, 07 @ 3:08 pm:
I really enjoyed the column and the Robin Hood analogy too.
However, I see the Governor as Prince John and Madigan as the Sheriff of Nottingham. The problem seems to be that Robin Hood is missing in action. Who will resuce Illinois from these “evildoers.”
Political superheroes seem to be in short supply in Springfield.
- Jeff Trigg - Friday, Jul 13, 07 @ 3:10 pm:
Robin Hood robbed from the rich, tax collectors and gave the poor peasants their tax money back. Rod Blagojevich is no Robin Hood, and is quite the opposite.
- ids - Friday, Jul 13, 07 @ 4:04 pm:
So Ill,
Still don’t see it. Blago’s strength is/was 1. His father in law, 2. The Ill Repub’s.
I still don’t see how Andy Shaw can say his message is resonating. Blago hopes it is, wants it to, but what does Andy point to that shows it is? A straw poll? He can’t point to a ‘what she thinking’ campaign to support his agenda. I thought Blago’s poll #’s are down, along with all pol’s. If anything, I’d think what resonates with voters is a pox on all of the pol’s. Whether it is resonating is a point of contention, not a fact as Shaw indicates.
- Huh? - Friday, Jul 13, 07 @ 4:11 pm:
Jeff Trigg - robin hood (rod) was trying to do with the GRT was rob from the rich (companies) and give to the poor (people with out heatlh insurance). Fortunately, the Sheriff of Nottingham (GA) stopped the robbery in its tracks with a vote of 0-107 (yes-no) because the rich were going to go out of state, out of business, or pass the cost of the robbery onto the poor and everybody else.
I know Errol Flynn and rod ain’t no Errol Flynn.
- Cassandra - Friday, Jul 13, 07 @ 8:46 pm:
If Blago were taking a Robin Hood approach to state government, he would be advocating a progressive income tax plus a surcharge on the wealthy. The GRT is fine, but many believe that businesses can pass all of it along to consumers, nd that therefore it really isn’t a tax on business, it is a disguised sales tax. If that is the case, then a GRT is not the Robin Hood way.
Taxing the middle class in order to provide benefits to the lower middle class and the poor is
the opposite of progressive. It leaves the wealthy completely out of the equation–a (protected) class apart.
- madman - Friday, Jul 13, 07 @ 9:35 pm:
Yellow Dog - In reaction to your much earlier post I thought insurance companies were opposed to the Governor’s Illinois Covered Plan?
- Loyal Whig - Saturday, Jul 14, 07 @ 12:21 am:
Governor Rod has none the impossible-made Madigan the god guy.
- Don Gwinn - Sunday, Jul 15, 07 @ 5:23 pm:
There have to be parts of Chicagoland and pockets of the southern stretches of the state where Blago’s antics go over well–the guy just won two elections in a row, you know. I realize his opponents were basically punching bags (scandal-ridden punching bags) but still!
That’s the saddest thing about Blagojevich. No matter what I or anyone else say about him, he has that ultimate comeback: “The people of Illinois gave me a whole lot more votes than the other guy.”
And after all, that’s true. Sad, but true.
More important, by intervening in such a ham-handed way, the governor all but guaranteed that any Republican fence-sitters would quietly move away from supporting the bill, or risk being seen as a Blagojevich toady. He did much more harm than good.
Rich, that would be true if the bill were good. Since it’s a silly ban that’s not going to affect anybody except scrupulously law-abiding people, I don’t think he did any damage by hurting the bill.
I wish he hadn’t manipulated the families of crime victims the way he did, but he’s a politician. Rattlesnakes bite, waves crash, politicians use people in disgusting and degrading ways. It’s all part of the circle of life.