Updated and bumped up and comments are now open. Check update “2″ for some breaking news. We’ll use this later today to live blog the House debate on Madigan’s resolution asking members for an up or down nonbinding vote on whether they support the GRT and I’ll open comments at that time.

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*** UPDATE 24 *** The Farm Bureau website has a clip of Madigan’s comments, or you can click below…

[audio:madiganresolution_13471.mp3]

Also, the rollcall is now online. Click here.

*** UPDATE 23 *** The rollcall still isn’t online, but the “PRESENT” votes were: Marlow Colvin, Will Davis, LaShawn Ford, Connie Howard, Chuck Jefferson, Al Riley and Eddie Washington. I don’t know if it makes any difference, but they are all African-American Democrats.

*** UPDATE 22 *** Madigan went straight to his office without commenting to reporters.

*** UPDATE 21 *** You can find the rollcall at this link in a few minutes.

*** UPDATE 20 *** 0 YES; 107 NO; 7 PRESENT

*** UPDATE 19 *** Speaker Madigan closes the debate.

“A proposal for the imposition of a gross receipts tax in Illinois, would constitute a fundamental shift of philosophy of taxation in this state.”

This would be the first time that Madigan has specifically come out against the GRT.

Madigan said that when people start companies they figure on losing money in the first year or two, and the GRT would harm those business plans.

“The gross receipts tax is a regressive tax.”

“Even his own lt. governor has stated opposition to the tax. The mayor of Chicago has stated opposition to the tax…”

“I plan to vote ‘NO’ today.”

*** UPDATE 18 *** Rep. Bill Black: I don’t want to see unnamed sources say, there’s really 35, 45, 55 votes for the gross receipts tax… they just didn’t want to vote against the Speaker… and at a date to be determined they will rise and say they support it.

No means no.

*** UPDATE 17 *** From the Tribune’s Clout Street blog [emphasis added]…

Earlier today, House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) made his strongest comments to date on the governor’s plan, saying there seems to be more support for an income tax than the governor’s gross receipts tax. Blagojevich has promised to veto an income tax increase.

Madigan, speaking to WGN-AM’s Spike O’Dell this morning, repeated his position that some type of tax increase is needed. But he still isn’t saying what he favors.

*** UPDATE 16 *** House GOP Leader Tom Cross: “From a policy standpoint (the GRT) just doesn’t work.”

*** UPDATE 15 *** Stephens moved that the resolution vote be exempted from the Century Club award. Madigan: “We were ahead of you. That was the plan.”

*** UPDATE 14 *** Rep. Ron Stephens: The governor mentioned yesterday that the electric rate issue is so critical, but the governor has not yet bothered to even call a meeting to negotiate the issue.

*** UPDATE 13 *** Rep. Julie Hamos: Also voting “NO” today. “I hope that our votes today will not be misinterpreted that… (we need) efforts to change (business tax structure).” “The governor has made a compelling case… that businesses are not paying their fair share in Illinois.” Suggests a “modified GRT,” perhaps a “value added tax” or a “gross margins tax.”

*** UPDATE 12 *** Rep. John Bradley: Disagrees with Hoffman when he said that the House should wait and see what the money will be used to fund. Bradley is saying that it’s important to look at the GRT for what it is, a regressive tax.

*** UPDATE 11 *** More Hoffman: The resolution doesn’t even match the changes that the Senate made.

Hoffman also read a letter from SEIU and the Laborer’s Union, which claims that the vote on the resolution is “premature.” The labor leaders (Ed Smith and Tom Balanoff) ask that all members vote “NO.” Hoffman said he would also vote “NO.”

*** UPDATE 10 *** More Hoffman: “I don’t understand why people can’t hear that (speaking of the governor’s promises not to raise income or sales taxes)… Unless we have 71 votes in this House to raise the income tax, why are we even talking about it?”

*** UPDATE 9 *** Rep. Jay Hoffman, Blagojevich’s House floor leader, is speaking. “We have three weeks to get together, to pass a budget… Why are we doing this today? Who would vote for a tax increase without knowing where the money is going to go?”

*** UPDATE 8 *** Rep. Rosemary Mulligan just asked Madigan whether they should continue with the vote because of the governor’s request that everyone vote “NO.” Madigan: “I would recommend that we engage in a good faith (debate)”

*** UPDATE 7 *** Paul says that House Republicans have signs on the back of their laptops which read: “No means no governor”

*** UPDATE 6 *** The House has begun debating the Madigan GRT resolution. Go here for live audio and video.

*** UPDATE 5 *** A reporter buddy just cracked that the guv’s request for “No” votes on Madigan’s resolution is like “the high school coach who forfeits the game rather than get skunked.” lol

It doesn’t appear, from that comment and the AP story below, that reporters are impressed by this move.

*** UPDATE 4 *** The AP’s take on the situation…

Facing the possibility of a serious defeat, Gov. Rod Blagojevich began lobbying lawmakers to vote against his very own tax plan Thursday.

The Illinois House plans to vote on a resolution testing whether lawmakers support the governor’s plan for a $7.6 billion business tax. The tax is widely expected to suffer a sound defeat, which would be a serious blow to Blagojevich’s chances of ever getting it passed.

So Blagojevich announced that he wants lawmakers to vote “no” - but not because they oppose the plan. He’s portraying a “no” vote as “a clear message that this issue is too important for a rush to judgment on a nonbinding resolution.” […]

Spokeswoman Abby Ottenhoff denied the request for votes against the plan was an attempt to put a better spin on an inevitable defeat.

*** UPDATE 3 *** My interview this morning on WBEZ can be found here, or you can listen below…

[audio:848_20070510a.mp3]

*** UPDATE x2 *** This just in from the governor’s office [emphasis added]…

“Yesterday was a good and productive start to the budget discussion in the House of Representatives. Members asked good questions, raised valid concerns and expressed an interest in working together to meet our state’s biggest challenges like healthcare and education.

“Considering that this meaningful dialogue was initiated just 24 hours ago, it would be premature to conclude the discussion today and ask members to make a decision before they have an opportunity to get answers to their questions and offer their ideas. So we are asking all members to vote ‘no’ to send a clear message that this issue is too important for a rush to judgment on a non-binding resolution.”

It looks like Madigan may get the trophy after all. LOL

*** UPDATE 1 *** If you were wondering about my mention of the House’s “Century Club” trophy, here are a couple of photos. The trophy is “awarded” to members whose bills receive at least 100 “NO” votes. Madigan’s resolution on the GRT might get close. These were taken with my Treo, so they’re not great.

Check out the photo behind the trophy in the first example. Madigan hisself…

A closeup of the trophy…

WBEZ just called asking for an interview, so some posting might be delayed. I’m supposed to be on around 9ish, so tune in your radio or click here to listen on the Intertubes.