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End of session reports
Saturday, May 31, 2008 * We can’t be everywhere, and we can’t always get to the computer to blog, so follow along at home and help us live-blog the end of session in comments… * 2:50 pm - One piece of the capital projects package is approved…
The Senate also passed the gaming expansion bill and is working on the capital projects spending bill now. Listen or watch at this link. Also, the House unanimously sent the ethics bill to the governor. * 3:22 pm - The capital projects bill just passed the Senate with 51 “Yes” votes and just one “No” vote.
- Posted by Rich Miller
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- Anonymous - Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 2:57 pm:
The Molaro bill just passed the senate. Bad news for gaming in the state of illinois.
- some former legislative intern - Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 3:18 pm:
HEADLINE:
The Illinois Senate approved the lease of the Illinois Lottery which is the first step in the “pawn shopping” of the assets of the state of Illinois.
I hope the Pawn Shop bill will fail in the House.
- jj - Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 3:19 pm:
hey - leg intern - read the bill.
Then come back.
- Rich Miller - Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 3:23 pm:
jj, your confrontational style the past few days is starting to annoy me. Tone it down, please. Last warning. (I’m not specifically talking about the above comment, but since you’re posting here now I thought I’d try to get your attention.)
- some former legislative intern - Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 3:30 pm:
Thanks, Rich.
And to answer jj’s question directly: Floor Amendment #2 highlights my point precisely:
AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 1496
AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 1496, AS AMENDED,
9 on page 75, line 11, after “revenues”, by inserting “for the
10 purpose of transferring to the State its 20% share of gross
11 revenues after prize payouts”.
the key here is “for the purpose of transferring to the state its 20% share of gross revenues after prize payouts”
That is taking the lottery to the Pawn Shop for some cash up front and agreeing to only take 20% of the profits in the future.
- Rich Miller - Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 3:34 pm:
I should note that my warning to jj applies to everyone. We’ve got more important stuff to do today than referee childish arguments on the blog.
There will be life after session, so don’t get yourself banned forever because you wanna get snippy on May 31, 2008.
- some former legislative intern - Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 3:36 pm:
was my comment off, Rich? I am trying to debate the policy. Let me know.
- Rich Miller - Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 3:38 pm:
it was just a general warning to everybody. I’m not taking sides specifically against jj. I’m taking sides against goofiness. Everybody relax and try to enjoy the show.
- jwscott72 - Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 3:41 pm:
Rich, is the Senate certain that the Speaker won’t call the capital bill? I was there when they passed the bill and it was dead silent once the vote was announced. I expected some sort of applause, etc.. but nothing.
- Rich Miller - Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 3:42 pm:
The only thing that’s certain is what’s already happened. lol
- jwscott72 - Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 3:43 pm:
Good point. I found the silence odd. Any ideas as to when the budget or capital plan will get called in the House? Do I have time for a nap or a long dinner? LOL
- jj - Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 3:46 pm:
Thanks Rich, I appreciate the even-handedness, and hope I am not being called out specifically for my love of Tom Cross.
- IDOT Lifer - Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 3:47 pm:
Only in Illinois is it necessary to legislate “ethics”. Something seems basically wrong with the whole concept.
- jj - Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 3:50 pm:
My frustration gets ahead of me sometimes when I see so much wrong information here from people who aren’t bothering to follow along and just spurting out spin.
The cooperation that the Senate showed was heartwarming. And watching the debate and applause, I honestly feel they thought they had accomplished something great.
I wish we could experience that over in the House as well.
- Anonymous - Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 4:26 pm:
The capital bill will be called in the House. It may not pass, but it will be called.
- As A Mom - Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 4:30 pm:
Cap Bills TIED together: HB 1496 lotto lease (43-8-3) HB 2651 gaming (32-18-5) HB 4723 bonding ( )
HB 5618 hosp. cap & urban revital (32-19-2) HB 6339 Cap. Proj (51-1-4)
BIMP bill - SB 773 passed Hse (65-50) implements the 4 budget bills: SB 1102, 1115, 1129 and when the Hse gets it- HB 5701.
- As A Mom - Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 4:43 pm:
4723 passed (50-4-1)
The House filed another appropriation amend HA 2 to SB 1103 they also filed amends to SB 2094 for managing the lotto.
- Speakers Alter Ego - Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 4:46 pm:
My children, the capitol bill will be called and it will fail with 45 votes per my command.
- make it end - Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 4:59 pm:
Word is that the House will also call the pension obligation bond bill. It will fail as well.
- make it end - Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 5:02 pm:
Senate’s coming back. The chair just said that if members will come back, they can get out of here with some daylight left.
- anon - Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 5:03 pm:
Pass the capital bill but not the bonding bill. What do you think?
- Six Degrees of Separation - Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 5:13 pm:
GA’s site says HB4723 Capital Bill passed the senate 50-4. Lauzen, Hultgren, Burzynski and Murphy N, Bond, Garrett, Haine and Sandoval NV. If you read the amendment 3, the whole thing depends on HB 1496, 2651, 4723, 5618, and 6339 also being signed.
- anon - Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 5:18 pm:
Regardless of the action to be taken, it is certain that the House will let us down by not doing their job. Its a real shame.
- anon - Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 5:49 pm:
What is the House’s job? Or the Senate’s? Or the Governor’s? Only what is in their oaths of office, that’s their job descriptions. Beyond that it’s Political Science 101, i.e., the primary function of any government, or member of that government, is to stay in power. Mr. Jones, Mr. Watson, Mr. Madigan, Mr. Cross, and Mr. Blagojevich are all performing the primary function of members of government. (Now if only their advisors had that mandate and were answerable to “the people,” we might all find out the rationale for the actions of those five people.)
- wordslinger - Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 6:16 pm:
Has anything as big as the capital bill ever had such little salesmanship?
Where were the big rallies around the state, the pr efforts in the press, the buy-in of the schools, transportation interests and unions, the grass-roots organizing?
I suspect 90% of citizens here in Chicago metro don’t even know there’s a debate about it. There’s been nothing. This is a glaring case where a governor has to lead and run it like a campaign. You can’ do that if you’re afraid to come out of your bunker.