* 2:35 pm - I don’t believe there’s a leaders meeting today, but this is from a letter sent by the governor to Speaker Madigan and the two GOP leaders about the impasse over a new gaming bill…
We have an important task to complete in the coming days and weeks. The people of Illinois deserve a balanced budget that meets their needs. I understand your desire to pass a capital plan. But a budget that invests in infrastructure without providing resources for education and healthcare is not an option. We must find a way to meet all of our obligations.
Tomorrow at 2:00 p.m., I will convene a leaders meeting in my office to discuss viable options for funding education. Now that you have effectively taken gaming off the table, I am asking you to take time today to consult with your caucuses and identify potential revenue sources for education that you could support without raising taxes on people. I look forward to hearing your ideas and getting negotiations back on track tomorrow.
The entire letter can be downloaded here.
* 2:45 pm - Only 1,365 signatures? Judging from comments here and elsewhere on the Intertubes, I thought they’d get more. From a press release…
Citizens to Impeach Blagojevich delivered via email today the signatures of 1,365 Illinoisans on a petition calling for House Speaker Madigan to launch an impeachment investigation of Governor Blagojevich in accordance with Section 14, Article IV of the 1970 Illinois Constitution.
The ongoing budget crisis has clearly shown that Rod Blagojevich has become to Illinois what Gray Davis was to California. Unlike the Golden State, however, Illinois has no recall provision upon which the people can act. Therefore, a group Illinoisans launched a petition website (www.impeachblago.com) in an effort to give voice to their fellow citizens who have grown frustrated with the near criminal mismanagement of the state’s finances.
* 2:48 pm - I told subscribers in a password-protected post earlier today that House Speaker Madigan and Senate President Jones were meeting today to put final touches on the electric rate agreement. Here’s more…
The proposal would spread out the consumer breaks over four years, Clayborne said, adding that negotiators had “pretty much closed” a $50 million gap since last month, when lawmakers said the utilities had agreed to a $950 million package.
Among the issues still unresolved are whether credits should be given to consumers or checks should be mailed to them, said Clayborne, who chairs the Senate Committee on Environment and Energy.
Lawmakers need to work out what parts of the package need to be voted on in legislation and what parts should be in a memorandum of understanding worked out with utility interests, Clayborne said. He said he would like to vote on a deal this week.
* 3:31 pm - The folks at Chicago Tonight say they hope to post the video soon of House Speaker Madigan’s appearance last night. It may end up here. Check the main site as well. Here are some excerpts…
Madigan: What’s happened is that the governor is not getting what he wants. He wants a 7% increase in state spending [Madigan later corrected himself and noted it was a 30 percent increase that the governor wanted].
His proposals have failed before the legislature. He really doesn’t see anywhere to go to get what he wants and so he’s resorted to name calling. And i called upon him in the past and i will call upon him again, stop the name calling. Bring people together. Join together in good faith, and try to solve these problems. Adopt a budget for the state of illinois. Many people in Illinois are very dependent upon the government of the state of Illinois. Every school district in the state gets support from the government. Those that are developmentally disabled and residents of nursing homes all depend upon support from the government of the state of illinois. They deserve to have this budget impasse solved now. We should get to work and solve our problems, not with the divisive leadership but rather the leadership which was designed to bring people together, not divide them. […]
Carol Marin: …This would be, at this stage, a pretty much do nothing legislature being wouldn’t it?
Madigan: We are very hopeful that this week we will announce rate reductions on electric service that will amount to $1 billion statewide. This is an issue where the governor has been asked, but he’s declined to participate to bring down electric rates all across the state. As far back as last fall, during the veto session, i was calling for the advancement of legislation that would freeze the rates. I passed that bill on to the house. We passed it out of the house again at the beginning of the year. Never any support from the governor. It was the advancement of rate freeze legislation which brought the utilities to the table. We have negotiated with them over several weeks and we are now prepared to announce a rate reduction plan, which will cost in excess of $1 billion. That’s $1 billion in savings for the electric ratepayers all across state of illinois. […]
Carol Marin: Do you regret being Blagojevich’s [campaign] co-chair the last time?
Madigan: No, i’m not going to regret that. I supported the Democratic nominee for governor. I’m a Democrat. I wish the governor would understand that. 37 Years of service in the House of Representatives. Always elected as a Democrat. Over 20 years as the speaker. Always elected as a Democrat.
Carol Marin: Where is this going to go? I mean, by the time we get to july 24th this will be the longest special session in history and it will be under a complete super Democratic control. What does this say about the party?
Madigan: It says that the Democratic Party is a very different element. It’s not very easy to bring it together. We will work real hard to get the job done. We hope we will get it don’t before the end of the month but, again, people have to come together and recognize that there are differences differences within the democratic party. There are differences within the state of Illinois. We need to work real hard to reconcile those differences so that we can solve this budget problem and continue to provide support to local school districts and the mentally ill, the developmentally disabled and those in nursing homes. That’s why we are here. We should get to work and get the job done and let everybody in the state go about their business.
- fedup dem - Tuesday, Jul 17, 07 @ 2:49 pm:
To be honest, this is the first that I have heard of anyone circulating such a petition.
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Jul 17, 07 @ 3:06 pm:
I’m glad Obama said it, but it bears repeating and focusing on -
A government should not have to resort to gambling to meet it’s revenue needs.
I’d like to make that a rule of thumb - Any government forced to resort to gambling to meet it’s needs is bankrupt fiscally and morally and an embarrassment to history.
- wow - Tuesday, Jul 17, 07 @ 3:26 pm:
Electric rate resolution does that mean hell froze over? One will believe it only when I see it in my bill.
- Values Matter - Tuesday, Jul 17, 07 @ 3:29 pm:
Capital investments help grown the economy, which will help build new revenues to the state of Illinois. If the leaders in Springfield don’t understand that, then maybe we need some new leaders in Springfield.
- jwscott72 - Tuesday, Jul 17, 07 @ 3:31 pm:
I didn’t know there was a website either, not that it matters (wish it would).
Funny that Emil was a mere cc on the letter and not a recipient.
- Garp - Tuesday, Jul 17, 07 @ 4:08 pm:
Carol Marin did a very nice job with Madigan on Chicago Tonight yesterday. She asked appropriate questions and wasn’t at all rabid like she is sometimes. She even reviewed the new Harry Potter film.
I still haven’t forgiven her for trashing Tom Lyons for being a poor leader right after he died and praising the recently indicted fast Eddy V but maybe she has some hope yet.
- Dollar USA - Tuesday, Jul 17, 07 @ 4:13 pm:
My suggestion for new revenue is; tax utilities 100% on all net income above a return on investment of 9% plus 200% of the compensation received by all of their executives earning more than $600,000 per year.
- Electric Boogaloo - Tuesday, Jul 17, 07 @ 4:58 pm:
Electric Rate Relief. Hah! What is the legislature and the AG giving up for getting $1 billion, and why is the process so secret? The legislature blew it 10 years ago when enacting the ‘97 legislation, and are about to blow it again, by being so stubborn and not letting interested parties participate in the “democratic process.”
- some former legislative intern - Tuesday, Jul 17, 07 @ 4:58 pm:
MJM notwithstanding, I sure as heck regret givng the guy $250 and voting for him in 2002. At least I can look back with satisfaction on the fact that I voted Green last year.
- Captain America - Tuesday, Jul 17, 07 @ 5:08 pm:
I’m very pleeased for downstate residents and downstate legislators that the electricty rate relief issue has been resolved. Failure to act would have been a disaster for the Democratic Party.
I was never in favor of a rate freeze. Long-term, I still think that we are being ripped- off by a deregulated utility industry. Deregulation was based upon a false premise - the myth of competiton. This issue needs to be carefully studied,and we need to return to a modified public utility model of energy production and distribution because it’s a natural monopoly.
- Indpendent One - Tuesday, Jul 17, 07 @ 5:32 pm:
I’ve seen the “Impeach Rod” website. However, my group has bills before the governor, not yet signed. Knowing how vindictive he can be, I recommended not signing it. If he can link a name and a bill together…..goodbye bill.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Tuesday, Jul 17, 07 @ 6:25 pm:
Its great to see Madigan out on the press trail. What a contrast with the Governor in style and substance.
- From the Inside - Tuesday, Jul 17, 07 @ 6:29 pm:
The CMS personnel office is working on detailed plans for a potential government shutdown. It is good to plan for a shutdown so you can minimze its impact, but I’ve never seen the planning stage go so far before.
Get ready - all heck is about to break loose.
- d4 idot - Tuesday, Jul 17, 07 @ 7:07 pm:
Rich, I woulda signed the online petition, but I like to be employed, I would make a bet that someone is running that list against the names of state employees…….and I bet the results are not going to be nice….
- downhereforyears - Tuesday, Jul 17, 07 @ 7:15 pm:
I’m not a died in the wool Madigan fan but I believe he is right on this time. Blagojevich has made a joke of good government in this state. I’m really embarassed to travel outside the state trying to defend our governor. Really does anyone buy into has garbage. Signed a frustrated democrat.
- dwlawson - Tuesday, Jul 17, 07 @ 7:24 pm:
The problem with the Democratic party is that it is two parties under one name: Socialist and Democrat.
- Electric Boogaloo - Tuesday, Jul 17, 07 @ 7:34 pm:
I need to rant about electric rate relief again for a moment. Everyone can see its a problem, but throwing the government at it by creating a new state agency is nonsensical. Do you really want government, especially this government, running an electric market? With the resulting increased costs, the legislature should forgo all this trouble and simply take out ads to discourage businesses from locating in the state. I’m just dumbfounded by this process.
- Tired of the mess - Tuesday, Jul 17, 07 @ 7:57 pm:
D4–I agree completely with you. I think that you would have several thousand state employees’ signatures if there was not fear of retribution.
- Squideshi - Tuesday, Jul 17, 07 @ 8:49 pm:
“At least I can look back with satisfaction on the fact that I voted Green last year.”
Right on! Something is happening here in Illinois–we’re approaching a tipping point–I can feel it. In the past few weeks alone, my Green Party local has spontaneously seen a Democratic county board member attend and a former Democratic township committee chairman offer to help.
- Squideshi - Tuesday, Jul 17, 07 @ 8:52 pm:
“The problem with the Democratic party is that it is two parties under one name: Socialist and Democrat.”
I get really tired of people throwing around the word Socialist without even really knowing what it means. In my view, the Democratic Party takes the same type of big corporate money as the Republican Party; and as a result, despite the rhetoric, represent essentially the same interests.
- yawn - Tuesday, Jul 17, 07 @ 9:49 pm:
Yeah, 1,400 sigs or whatever is a joke. I think over 70,000 wrote in that Randy Stufflebeam guy for Gov last year, and his campaign was pretty much non-existent.
A lot of people don’t like Blago. I think we all get that. I’m not a fan either.
But last time I checked, Blago won by a huge margin last November. All this stuff in Springfield is all in a vacuum. Regular people don’t like the legislators who are calling him names either.
It’s okay not to like Blago. But impeachment talk just looks crazy and desperate. There are no legal grounds. Getting your butt kicked at the polls isn’t a valid reason.
If you can’t even get a quarter of one-percent of the number of votes the guy got just 8 months ago, just go away and stop cryin’.
- 'nuffsAnuff - Tuesday, Jul 17, 07 @ 10:10 pm:
MJM is very lucky that he has G-rod to kick around. For G-Rod is hard to love (hair cuts, air planes, general lack of sucking up to the disenfranchised legislatures) Yet he has clearly and consistently told the good people of the State of Illinois what his priorities are: health care and education. As the Chief Executive of one of the wealthiest states in the Richest Country in the WORLD he has proposed universal health care! Is this really so radical? Cuba provides it with a fraction of our resources and excellent results. Better infant mortality numbers than we have. We should be ashamed. & yet the sheeple here bleat at our leader and suggest that he should get on board with a do nothing budget that allows a disasterous medicaid policy eat up all the natural growth in revenue. it is time to “free ourselves from mental slavery” We won lets do something with it. Go Rod.
- Selene - Tuesday, Jul 17, 07 @ 10:25 pm:
Well said, “Yawn”. Why would voters want to impeach the Governor for not following the desires the the Speaker of the House?
- anon - Tuesday, Jul 17, 07 @ 10:33 pm:
How refreshing it is hearing Madigan talking to the press. I think he is too powerful but say what you want the man does make sense. I will never vote for this governor again. No doubt about it this governor is the worst I have ever seen. Who would have thought that George Ryan actually looks pretty good about now. What an arrogant, pompous, show boating, incompetent buffoon this guy is. It’s terrible how he is in Emmett Jones’ pocket. It can’t get any worse. Vote Green Party!!!!
- 'nuffsAnuff - Tuesday, Jul 17, 07 @ 10:45 pm:
Is it really so “pompous” for a Democratic governor to take an overwhelming victory margin based on a campaign that prioritized health care and education and suggest that we can afford a health care system that is comparable with what Cuba offers its’ citizens.
- Kara - Tuesday, Jul 17, 07 @ 11:02 pm:
I’d love to sign the impeachment petition but my husband is employed by the state. I think we need to work on getting recall in this state.
- dwlawson - Tuesday, Jul 17, 07 @ 11:17 pm:
Which Cuban healthcare system? The one for high ranking people and foreign visitors or the one for the common folk?
- OAD - Wednesday, Jul 18, 07 @ 12:07 am:
If you read the petition carefully, it called for an opening of an investigation to see if there was cause to impeach Blagojevich. Even were it to go forward, I don’t see what that accomplishes beyond another parallel investigation. If Blago goes down, it’ll be at the hands of a Federal Prosecutor, not an online petition.
- Lula May - Wednesday, Jul 18, 07 @ 7:37 am:
Carol extended the same invitation to appear on Chicago Tonight to Emil and Rod. Are either going to take it ?
Carol Marin has matured in her interview style and did a great job.
I think the best question she asked was: You (Madigan) have been in Springfield for 30 years so don’t you bear some responsibility for this mess ?
Madigan: Yes, we all bear some responsibility. But failed leadership has gotten us where we are today.
It is clear he disgusted with the Governors low class and juvenile tactics.
- Squideshi - Wednesday, Jul 18, 07 @ 10:43 am:
“Vote Green Party!!!!”
I swear that I am not prompting these comments. I don’t know who is submitting them; but it is not a coordinated effort, and I am starting to see a lot more of them–evidence of the tipping point that I had previously mentioned.