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* Apparently the air conditioning in the Executive Mansion has broken down as legislators return to Springfield for special session.

Talk about bad timing. Some forecasts have the temperature here in the mid 80’s this week. This is ironic:

What’s worse, the budget problems might prohibit the state from immediately fixing the breakdown at the governor’s official residence.

Blagojevich stopped work on all new state construction projects earlier this month because his staff said language in budget legislation sent to him prohibited it.

Capital Development Board spokesman David Blanchette said that the legislation only pertains to certain streams of money and it’s possible the air conditioner at the mansion could be fixed using a different funding source:

“It depends on whether it needs replacement or repair and what potential funding sources there might be,” Blanchette said.

* Some events scheduled at the mansion for this week have already been canceled, and it is unclear if the Governor is going to stay there overnight.

When legislators were in Springfield for last summer’s overtime the Governor started staying overnight in the mansion after an onslaught of negative press for flying daily roundtrips between Chicago and Springfield.

Just the first weird thing to happen today as things heat up in Springfield…

* 3:38 pm - [Rich Miller] A new air conditioner is said to be on order on an emergency basis.

posted by Kevin Fanning
Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 11:38 am

Comments

  1. I’m guessing Blago broke it himself so he can continue waisting money the state doesn’t have so he can fly back and forth on the state’s private jet.

    Comment by ahoy! Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 11:43 am

  2. Lowe’s is having a sale on window units. Maybe he can sweep a fund, and buy one on the cheap.

    Comment by He's in Luck Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 11:44 am

  3. lol

    Comment by Kevin Fanning Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 11:47 am

  4. The air still works at the Garden Inn.

    Comment by Bill Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 11:53 am

  5. Bill, How do you know?

    Comment by Shelbyville Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 11:57 am

  6. I wonder if the Gov intended to turn up the karmatic heat on himself with these sessions.

    Comment by Ghost Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 12:00 pm

  7. If you can’t stand the heat, stay out of the Governor’s Mansion.

    Comment by phocion Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 12:07 pm

  8. Probably just one of those things.

    But if frogs start dropping from the sky, and House Dems start smearing ram’s blood above their office doors, you’ll know something’s really up.

    Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 12:08 pm

  9. The budget for the mansion and staff used to be paid out of the foundation and not say GRF. If that’s still the case then appropriation authority shouldn’t be an issue, it would only be a matter of how much money the foundation has.

    Comment by Anon Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 12:10 pm

  10. LOL.

    Comment by Kevin Fanning Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 12:11 pm

  11. wordslinger-

    Best. Response. EVAR.

    Comment by John Bambenek Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 12:16 pm

  12. Betcha they never thought about sweeping that fund (even if they could!).

    Comment by Joe Schmoe Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 12:16 pm

  13. It should be fixed today. Apparently the Gov realized that the humidity would play heck with his ‘doo, and ordered it repaired stat!

    Comment by Now that I think About It Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 12:17 pm

  14. As we know, the state does ZERO maintenance on any property or equipment. All they do is repair things that break. Sometimes.

    It’s a new way of protecting state owned property brought to you by ROD BLAGOJEVICH.

    Comment by Handyman Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 12:24 pm

  15. this should not be an issue cuz as we all know the mansion is not inhabited by anyone who might wish to turn it on…”is the plane ready yet?”

    Comment by Anonymous45 Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 12:27 pm

  16. Why do I have a feeling Mike Madigan crept over to the A/C unit this morning and did a few alterations with a hammer.

    Comment by Speaking At Will Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 12:28 pm

  17. No air conditioning at the Governor’s Mansion in July? Sounds like a good excuse for the stink that’s been emanating there recently.

    But after last week’s press fiasco, Blagojevich should be used to being seen sweating around places that smell like gas.

    Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 12:39 pm

  18. word, that was outstanding.

    It’s 72 degrees and chilled out at AA World HQ. Amazing what maintenance does for an HVAC system.

    Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 12:42 pm

  19. Wordslinger. . . Rich should give you some type of award for that! That was so funny!

    Comment by My Opinion Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 12:44 pm

  20. “as things heat up in Springfield…”

    Was that pun intended? I say make him stay there and sweat it out.

    Comment by Huckleberry Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 12:47 pm

  21. Gotta do what you can to stick a cheesy pun in there now and then.

    Comment by Kevin Fanning Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 12:53 pm

  22. “Gotta do what you can to stick a cheesy pun in there now and then.”

    But Kevin, you can do cheddar!

    Comment by freelance editor Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 1:03 pm

  23. Not that that wasn’t gouda. I’ll be here all week, folks!

    Comment by freelance editor Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 1:04 pm

  24. all i can say is wow. cheeeeesssssseee

    Comment by Kevin Fanning Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 1:08 pm

  25. It’s gettin hot in herrrrre, so take off all your clothes — Nelly

    Comment by P Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 1:11 pm

  26. This guy hates the heat. I can guarantee you he will not stay anywhere there is no air conditioning.

    Comment by Maggie Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 1:14 pm

  27. Kevin, Shouldn’t you be at the COTW taking notes?

    Comment by Bill Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 1:25 pm

  28. You’re killing me Bill

    Comment by Kevin Fanning Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 1:28 pm

  29. I think all he needs is a few icy stares from Madigan to chill out. Get real: he doesn’t use the mansion even when he overnights, usually he stays at the Crowne Plazae instead.

    Comment by It's getting hot in here... so take off all your clothes? Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 1:33 pm

  30. He could camp out at the Stratton Building, which is renowned for its overactive air conditioning. We freeze our butts off on hot days :)

    Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 1:48 pm

  31. Did the AC really break, or was it all the hot air out of Sprinfield ‘leadership’ that seemingly caused the temperature to rise?

    train111

    Comment by train111 Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 1:49 pm

  32. “Quick, Fumbles, get that check we were sending Carterville. Forge an endorsements and get the repair company over right away. Maybe that non-union outfit that worked on my real house,” said Blagoof.
    Fumbles Harris is out hitting up former staffers who crashed at the Mansion and pocket travel cash. He believes they should foot the bill.

    Comment by DumberThanYou Think Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 1:54 pm

  33. The heat A-Rod will feel in the air-conditioning-free Governor’s Mansion is nothing compared to what’s coming from me.

    Comment by If it Fitz Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 2:41 pm

  34. Does RB even know how to get to the Mansion?

    Comment by Siyotanka Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 2:45 pm

  35. Wow did Froggy get clobbered during the House hearing for his double talk answers on why there are some line items in the capital plan. He also promised to surrender the secret MOU’s alredy signed by House and Senate GOPs….that should send some campaigns sinkola soon.
    The funniest line so far is StatewideTom declaring no one trusts Blagoof…that is T Shirt material for sure.

    Comment by DumberThanYou Think Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 2:47 pm

  36. A 40-year old compressor? Sheesh! You’d think this was the Dana-Thomas House….

    Comment by Vote Quimby! Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 2:47 pm

  37. To change the subject for a second, on the COTW is there a list of who’s testifying? Is the City of Chicago testifying as an opponent of the gaming bill?

    Is Fritchey jealous of how long Doug Whitley got to talk?

    Comment by Anon Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 2:54 pm

  38. Heard there was another proc for a special today? Can you post it here.

    Comment by Huckleberry Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 2:54 pm

  39. If I can get a hold of it, yes.

    Comment by Kevin Fanning Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 3:03 pm

  40. Thanks. I think it requires them to consider vetoes.

    Comment by Huckleberry Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 3:10 pm

  41. looks like Blagoof will file his budget cuts today…wonder if The President allows an override or just goes into hiding?

    Comment by DumberThanYou Think Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 3:15 pm

  42. For those of us who don’t follow everyday every little bit of the inside baseball, who is Froggy, and what did Statewide Tom say that was T-shirt worthy?

    Comment by iPhone Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 3:22 pm

  43. The A/C has been out at another state building but cannot be repaired due to CDB’s halting of all projects under the Governor’s directive. . . Curious if this one gets fixed, AFSCME are you paying attention?

    Comment by Anon Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 3:26 pm

  44. Nice closer from Baise..”it’s all about trust, and if anybody trusted the second floor, we wouldn’t have a bogus funding scheme…”

    Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 3:34 pm

  45. I think Froggy is Glenn Poshard and statewide tom is Tom Cross.

    Comment by Vote Quimby! Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 3:43 pm

  46. “The air conditioning was working fine this past Independence Day weekend as I enjoyed Springfield with my family at the Mansion,” Gov. Blago said.

    Comment by Vote Quimby! Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 3:50 pm

  47. I wonder if they use central air in that place.

    Comment by Levois Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 4:44 pm

  48. Aha! The “emergency loophole.”

    Love that loophole. Nothing could done in state agencies without the emergency loophole. Far more important than Catch-22.

    The emergency loophole is what keeps state government rolling.

    Comment by Macbeth Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 5:43 pm

  49. Blagojevich can purchase air conditioner for the rarely lived in mansion.
    But no raises for state employees for five years.
    Let Rod bake.

    Comment by Sheryl Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 7:16 pm

  50. Just fly back home Blago ! It’s probably seazed up as it hasn’t been used in years. Like the guy earlier …maybe Lowes has a cheap window unit. Keep it under $100.00 & you don’t need bids.

    Comment by anonymous Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 7:49 pm

  51. Addenda to the previous comment: State employees who are politically connected have gotten raises (big ones).
    Just do a FOIA!
    While the ones who do all the work get nothing.

    Comment by Sheryl Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 8:33 pm

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