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This just in… Senate to take up resolution that turns thumbs down on Madigan’s budget
Wednesday, Jun 20, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller [This update from below has been given its own post.] * - 12:24 pm - As I told subscribers this morning, the Senate Democrats talked privately yesterday about running a resolution that rejects the budget passed by the House last month. The Senate appears poised to run this resolution today. The Senate Republicans have requested a brief caucus, so the debate will begin at 12:45 or so. You can read the resolution here. * 12:27 pm - The Senate resolution (SR 258) would be essentially the same thing that House Speaker Michael Madigan did to the governor’s gross receipts tax. The House, you will recall, passed a resolution that rejected the tax hike. And today, the Senate may reject Madigan’s budget. Madigan has repeated time and time again that the House has passed a budget. The object is to take this argument away from him. Since the House budget is still on hold via a parliamentary procedure, the Senate can’t vote on the actual document yet. * 12:52 pm - You can listen or watch the Senate debate here. The Republicans don’t appear to have returned from caucus yet. * 1:00 pm - The Senate is now back in session. From the resolution…
* 1:08 pm - The governor’s plane appears to be landing now. He’s late for the leaders meeting, which was supposed to start at one o’clock. But it looks like Senate President Emil Jones will be late as well, considering the debate on this resolution. He’ll likely have a nice arrival gift for the governor, however. * 1:11 pm - Sen. Trotter, the resolution’s sponsor and the Senate Dems’ top budget guy, is now going through the problems he sees with the House-approved budget. * 1:14 pm - Sen. Radogno: “We’re wasting a lot of time on a resolution that is absolutely meaningless” as far as resolving the budget gridlock. * 1:17 pm - Radogno says she will vote “No,” to “send a message” that she isn’t in favor of this “gamesmanship.” Previously, Sen. Randy Hultgren had said he would also vote “No.” According to the resolution, a “No” vote means support for the House bill. But the Republicans are using a “No” vote to express their opposition to the “gamesmanship” - a term that has been used several times so far. * 1:22 pm - Cronin: “This process is shameful. It’s frivolous, it’s childish… The process is supposed to call on us to be responsible… We’re not taking our responsibilities seriously… I’m ashamed to be part of it and I’m voting ‘No.’” * 1:26 pm - The Republicans have asked twice now why the Democrats haven’t just proposed their own counter-proposal to Madigan’s budget. Trotter: It would be inappropriate to throw a budget on the table at this point because negotiations are ongoing. * 1:29 pm - Sen. Hendon: Cronin, you should simply resign if you feel you aren’t doing enough here. “What would you have us do, just lay down like little puppy dogs for Mike Madigan?” “We’re not laying down for Mike Madigan… We’re not a rubber stamp… We are the House of Lords, they are the House of Commons… We shall not be led by the House of Commons.” * 1:33 pm - Willie Delgado, who has occasionally expressed solidarity with Madigan this year (Delgado came over from the House) and has publicly broken with Senate President Jones on several occasions, is now excoriating the Madigan budget as woefully inadequate. * 1:47 pm - Marty Sandoval: “It’s easy to cast stones today at a budget that was passed by the House of Representatives. It’s a very difficult day and a shameful day for the people on the Southwest Side of Chicago because they have no budget… Nor will they have one tomorrow… We have not resolved the crisis that relates to electrical rates… We have not discussed the crisis of public transportation… We have not discussed property tax relief… I am not prepared to vote on any budget, whether it’s the House budget or any temporary budget, or any two-month budget, or any six-month budget that doesn’t take care [of those issues]… This Senate resolution is either a manifestation of (massive?) testicular virility or a lack of it…” * 1:51 pm - Carol Ronen: “It’s never a game when you’re standing up for what you believe in… We’re setting the tone for the negotiations for the next ten days.” * 2:01 pm - Mike Jacobs just took a swipe at Rep. Mike Boland. He asked Sen. Trotter how much money was in the budget to operate Thompson prison, noting that Boland, one of his state Reps., voted for the budget. The answer was that the approp line was the same as the current fiscal year, which means it is a cut. * 2:06 pm - AP Analysis: Blagojevich flights cost taxpayers $76,000…
* 2:07 pm - Senate GOP Leader Frank Watson: Today’s move shows “we’re a long, long way” from resolving the budget dispute. Watson called for a vote on the gross receipts tax because the governor keeps bringing it up in the negotiations. “There’s just no leadership. There’s none. There’s none.” * 2:14 pm - Senate President Jones: “I’ve been waiting all session for this demonstration by the minority leader… I enjoy it.” The resolution is designed to “send a clear signal that we should be in serious, serious budget negotiations. The Speaker did say that this is the high-water mark. It’s really the low-water mark.” “We have patience, we can wait.” “Real” problem with House budget: Pension contributions aren’t budgeted in the bill, so the education spending increase won’t be funded because the pension payments come right off the top. “They need to know today that this is it. That when you sit down, sit down and be sincere as it relates to health care, education, cutting bilingual, cutting meals on wheels…” “Sometimes I wonder what happens in the House as it relates to the members. Do they read? But you [Republicans] support that!” “We are not playing games. Games have already been played.” “This resolution sends a clear message, that the high-water budget that they talked about is really a low-water budget that the Senate is going to reject. And if that budget got over here and was called for a vote, I believe most of you on the other side of the aisle would probably vote for it.” “It’s been a dull session until today. I was waiting for the papers to fly, the theatrics, playing to the cheers of the crowd.. Not sincere, not sincere whatsoever, but (they) want to play those… stupid political games.” “When the agreement is made, I want to see you on the other side of the aisle, especially your leader say ‘I can support this.’” * 2:26 pm - Vote: 33-19-2 [Lightford said her “Yes” button wasn’t working properly, so it’s 34.] The roll call will be available here in a few minutes. * 2:31 pm - The Senate is adjourning until next Tuesday. * 2:33 pm - All Senate committees have been canceled today. * 2:34 pm - The Senate has officially adjourned until Tuesday at noon. * 2:49 pm -Democrats Munoz and Sandoval both voted “Present.” Sen. Viverito is not here this week. * 5:45 pm - Here are the audio clips following today’s leaders meeting:
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- Papa Legba - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 12:42 pm:
The wheels on the bus go around and around.
Keep working hard kids.
- Mr Brown - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 12:54 pm:
I am cracking up. Looks like two can play the speakers games. I find it poetic justice that the senate will kill madigans budget just the speaker used a resolution to kill the GRT.
The House did NOT pass a budget. They passed a pile of crap.
- Wacker Drive - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 1:02 pm:
I’m sure this drives the wedge even further between Mike and Milo.
Wonder Milo’s input was in this garbage resolution?
- So Ill - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 1:06 pm:
I don’t know. Can’t Madigan still claim that at least the House passed SOMETHING, while Blagojevich continues to push for defeated measures and the Senate apparently does nothing constructive?
It’s a good gift, but I don’t think it’s Christmas morning for anyone.
- plutocrat03 - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 1:13 pm:
Looks like the best gift to the citizens of Illinois is to have the Governor and Democratic ‘leadership’ resign so that an attempt can be made to find an adult in Springfield to actually do some work.
- So Ill - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 1:22 pm:
Just tuned in…who was that? “If you feel like you’re doing nothing, just leave”? “Would you have us just lay down for Mike Madigan, roll over like puppy dogs?”
Then somehow this went to Iraq? Whoa, whoever is fired up.
- MILFof 2 - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 1:22 pm:
Ricky should not comment on statesmanship!
- So Ill - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 1:23 pm:
“We’re the house of lords, they’re the house of commons”????
Wow, this would p*** me off.
- shermans ghost - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 1:29 pm:
If I was to place a bet in an office pool, which I would never do because of the stringent ethical restrictions in place, I’d say Mike over the other two “leaders” by 5 points.
- cermak_rd - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 1:33 pm:
Actually it cracked me up because it showed a complete lack of understanding on the history, form and function of the English HoC and HoL.
- Go Insane - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 1:36 pm:
Hendon’s remarks just revealed the arrogance and “better than you” attitude of the Senate Democratic leadership.
- South Sider - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 1:37 pm:
House of Lords. That’s rich.
How about House of Hot Air?
House of the weakest, veto-proof majority ever?House of Doo-doo?
- So Ill - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 1:43 pm:
Man, listening to this I’m even happier that I’m going on vacation out of state next week.
- A Citizen - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 1:44 pm:
We all knew our Senate was pathetic, why did they have to go and demonstrate it beyond doubt.
- Slice & Dice - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 1:48 pm:
What a flippin pathetic lack of charater move by the Senate Dems. sheeesh.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 1:52 pm:
I don’t follow how this resolution is “pathetic.” It’s a response to the House Dems. Everybody’s playing games under the Dome… in both parties. So I’m not sure why the SDems are not allowed to do so as well.
- So Ill - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 1:54 pm:
It appears that this will be nearly a party-line vote, correct?
Didn’t the Dems see that coming? Are they so convinced of their superiority that they couldn’t ask the GOP leaders their thoughts on this resolution?
Reason I ask, is, doesn’t this indicate a massive slap in the GOVERNOR’s face…the HOUSE lines up unanimously behind his idea, and half the SENATE lines up with the HOUSE…. (and yes, I know that’s not exactly accurate, but I bet it could easily be spun that way)
- So Ill - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 1:56 pm:
That should have read, the House lines up unanimously AGAINST his idea. Sorry.
- GettingJonesed - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 1:57 pm:
Rich is right — as always
Most importantly, it confirm Jones cannot put together his veto proof majority to pass a bill.
- Jaded - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 1:58 pm:
It hasn’t happended often this year, but for once, the Senate Republicans are right. This is just goofy. If they wanted to send a message, they could pass their own budget. The bottom line is that they can’t agree on a budget within their own caucus.
At a minimum, the Dems should let the Senate Repubs introduce their own no-growth budget and then vote it down, and introduce their “wish list budget” and let the Repubs kill it. At least they would be forcing votes on real legislation. This does nothing other than give some bored people something to do.
- Independent One - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 2:01 pm:
Fund education adequately, then bite the bullet and rescind your pay raise and get rid of the fat in the budget. Make some hard choices. Fix education - our children are our future!
- Jaded - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 2:03 pm:
Sorry, but Rich is not right this time. This is a pathetic response. If you want to do something in response, put the House budget on a Senate Bill and vote it down! This resolution is as worthless as the House GRT resolution. I thought that was a goofy idea, and I think this is a goofy idea.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 2:04 pm:
hendon is mistaken.
the senate is not the house of lords.
the senate is the house of hope!
just ask senator meeks.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 2:04 pm:
The Senate is the House of Pain!
- So Ill - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 2:05 pm:
Hehe…Watson on the negotiations: “A lecture series”
- Little Egypt - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 2:05 pm:
Who really cares? Just get a budget passed. No one is going to get exactly what they want, Blago, House, Senate, Dems, GOP, corps., utilities, lobbyists. So what’s new? Stop acting like children, just settle for the lesser of all evils, and get something done. There’s always next year right?
I’d like to put this very same scenario in front of all the kids going to Boys State/Girls State this summer and I’d bet my entire life savings that the kids can do better with a budget than the adults.
- Belle - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 2:07 pm:
While they are worried about laying down for Mike Madigan should I be worried about how far to bend over when the budget comes out? Seems like if it takes this much posturing to get anywhere, and everyone is needing something extra to cover their butt there can be nothing good about it. Meanwhile, perhaps they should shut the AC down in the capitol. They can’t get anything done on that problem either. It might push things along. It has at my house!
- Little Egypt - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 2:08 pm:
The countdown begins: 19 days before the first State employees don’t receive paychecks.
- Little Egypt - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 2:10 pm:
Belle - I love the idea on the AC. Shut it down at the Capitol and in legislative offices in the Stratton Office Building.
- the Other Anonymous - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 2:17 pm:
Getting Jonesed is exactly right. The real test here is whether any SDems vote something other than “aye.”. If Jones can’t keep his vaunted supermajority on this vote, then he definitely can’t keep it together for a real budget vote.
- The truth shall set you free - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 2:18 pm:
SO will the Gov have the same comments on this resolution as he did with Madigans? Remeber? 100 to 1 says he doesn’t.
- Truth in Budgeting - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 2:19 pm:
SB 1132 did appropriate the 5 state pension systems’ FY 08 certified contributions. SB 1132 and the corresponding BIMP bills did not amend the Continuing Appropriations Act which requires the state to appropriate the 5 pension systems’ certified contributions. Contributions to the systems increased by $616 million in FY 08, $546 million in GRF. The full increase is accounted for in the House spending plan.
- A Citizen - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 2:22 pm:
Rich, you may be right about “pathetic” being the wrong take on this. Childish?, maybe. A productive approach would be for the Senate to come up with their own budget then negotiate with the House. What’s going on now is akin to foreplay among eunuchs. Guv nixblago is functionally AWOL so the House and Senate are left with the task - if they can ever step up to the plate like mature adults. The childish “game playing” is wearing mighty thin.
- jwscott72 - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 2:23 pm:
So this is the vaunted “upper house”? This is a sad day for Illinois. Con con can’t come soon enough!
- South Sider - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 2:25 pm:
Anybody know which Sen Dems voted no/present?
- Values Matter - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 2:26 pm:
The Senate Democrats, especially Sen. Mike Jacobs, made the point that any smart state budget must address pensions and address our capital needs more effectively.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 2:34 pm:
sandoval voted ‘PRESENT’…
hmmm…
i guess jones would dump him from something if there was anything to dump sandoval from.
- Jaded - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 2:36 pm:
Just to make an obvious point, the House and the Senate were not in at the same time for even a minute this week, or last week. Apparently, they can’t even occupy the same floor at the same time these days!
- wait a minute - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 2:36 pm:
I know we all like to praise madigan, but Emil did a pretty smart move here by taking the HDem budget off the table for negotiating purposes, just like madigan did with grt. Even better, he had all the SGOP’ers supporting a budget without a pension payment.
This move, plus his work to bring madigan to the bargaining table on electric rates. You have to say Emil has demonstrated some savvy leadership
- Bluefish - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 2:37 pm:
I cannot wait for Nix to come out and demonize the Senate for taking 5 days off on the eve of the shutdown of the State. I’m sure those will be her first comments.
- Roger - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 2:38 pm:
What a pathetic waste of time and money…the politics in this state are a joke…people should be ashamed of their legislators on both sides of the aisle…God this is depressing.
- Crimefighter - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 2:38 pm:
Well…we’re in for a LONG HOT SUMMER…so where’s the office pool on when and how long a full blown government shutdown will go?
- It's On! - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 2:38 pm:
Munoz - Present
Sandoval - Present
Viverito - No Vote
Emil: “Me, Ricky and Donne would like to see you fellas out back.”
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 2:45 pm:
“Wait a minute,” who brought whom to the table on electric rates? Jones’ first proposal was no relief, then $65 million. He was dragged kicking and screaming all the way by his members.
- Jaded - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 2:46 pm:
Wait a minute,
I’ll give you the electric rate issue. Emil definitely forced the Speaker’s hand on that one and deserves his props on that issue, but how can you say this took the Speakers budget off the table just like the Speaker did with GRT. The Governor apparently still talks about GRT in the budget meetings, just like the Speaker will stand up and say “The House has passed a budget”. “The Senate has passed gas” “Once we rate electric rate relief, Mr. Holbrook will release his parlimentary hold on the House budget, and the Senate can consider that budget” “If the Senate doesn’t like the House Budget, maybe they should pass their own.”
And yes I did have fun imitating the Speaker’s voice and hand motions while typing this.
- Jaded - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 2:54 pm:
Since Rich posted on the electric rate issue, I will explain how I think Emil forced Madigan’s hand. I think Emil had Madigan convinced that he would actually pass the rate freeze bill and call it rate relief. Everybody knows that would do nothing for rate relief so I believe that is what brought the Speaker to the negotiating table. I am probably wrong, but that is what I based my post on.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 3:01 pm:
If we are talking about a spending bill, the House of Lords is powerless to do anything. D- on the Reference.
- wait a minute - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 3:02 pm:
Rich, et al, I would agree Emil didn’t demonstrate leadership on the electric rate issue, but ultimately a deal was created that the utilities can accept. And, i would argue that is in part due to emil’s legislative threats to call the 3 year rate freeze.
As for the House Dem budget, much like GRT, it’s dead.
start applying the spf 30, it’s going to be a long one.
- So Ill - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 3:23 pm:
wait a minute, Emil didn’t threaten to call the freeze so much as he screwed one of his own members when the freeze had the votes to pass the first time.
In other words, if that threat is what worked, then I want a refund for the extra money I paid Ameren for a month and a half, and I want it to come out of the Senate President’s pocket, because this could have been taken care of then.
- FGS - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 3:23 pm:
It appears the HR 507 concerning the Governer residing in Springfield was let out of House Rules and assigned to the State Government Administration Committee today. Coincidence?
- Objective Dem - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 3:29 pm:
Can’t we just outsource our legislative process to another state? I think some states only meet once every two years, maybe we could get them on off years.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 3:35 pm:
where’s nix? i can’t wait to see what she has to say about the senate’s work schedule.
i need to enjoy a good laugh.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 3:50 pm:
1. Madigan passed an actual budget, Emil hasn’t been able to put together 30 votes for one yet, even with a super-majority.
2. Tax and Spend Senate Democrats can crow all they want that Madigan’s budget was a low-water mark in state spending, not a high-water mark, but history shows us that you can’t force one chamber to spend more than its willing to.
3. If Senate Democrats are foolish enough to force a budget meltdown, or a state shutdown, Madigan will gladly hand them all the rope they want to hang themselves. The public will blame Democrats in general, but given that the Senate Democrats are busy carrying the Gov’s water for him on a program that the public doesn’t embrace, its Senate Democrats that will bear the brunt of the public’s ire. Besides, absent a budget deal, Madigan can tube any electric rate relief package as “inadequate”, and we all know who’s cajones are in a vice if that happens.
- So Ill - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 3:50 pm:
Has this been posted? From the Gov’s office:
“I’m delighted that Senate Democrats voted to reject the House Democrats’ budget that cuts education and takes healthcare away from children. I’m proud of Senate President Emil Jones and the Senate Democrats for standing up for the core Democratic values that we all believe in.”
- So Ill - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 3:51 pm:
That’s a quote from the Gov, not just his office, sorry for the ambiguity.
- Values Matter - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 4:00 pm:
Idea: pull the plug on the air conditioning in the Statehouse or make the Senators and Reps pay the Capitol Building’s utility costs if they go into overtime. That might help reduce the “hot air” quotient and get them to a budget on time:)
- Cassandra - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 4:02 pm:
Why do I feel like this has a lot to do with
1) the Democratic gubernatorial primaries for 2010 and
2) the fears of the education-industrial complex (teachers unions, prinicpals’ unions, school bureaucrats, school contractors) that some of their gadzillions of tax dollars might get sent over to health care.
- A Citizen - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 4:04 pm:
* 2:34 pm - The Senate has officially adjourned until Tuesday at noon. Okay then, it’s safe to take my tinfoil hat off and go outside again. Whew!
- play by play - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 4:12 pm:
Air Rod is scheuled to leave at 5:00. He actually will have spent 4 hours on the ground in Springfield.
- Captain America - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 4:16 pm:
I see the Senate vote as a prerequisite to long overdue negotiations between the House and Senate leaders on a final budget. Since Madigan’s budget is grossly inadequate, I hope that the Senate is able to negotiate a moderately better budget. I wouldn’t expect the Senate to competely capitulate or agree on every aspect of the Madigan maintenance budget. Most Democratic house members would also likely prefer a higher budget too.
I still believe Speaker Maidgan has the upper hand because he has a budget and the Senate does not. The question in my mind is how much the budget can be increased and still get 60% of the votes in both houses necessary to pass.
Too bad we couldn’t get to this stage before midnight May 31. But let’s hope they compromise and make a deal to get this budget impasse resolved.
- A Citizen - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 4:17 pm:
Oh goody, audio clips by 5:30 or 5:45 at the latest ?
- Truth in Budgeting - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 4:27 pm:
wait a minute - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 2:36 pm
“Even better, he had all the SGOP’ers supporting a budget without a pension payment.”
You have no idea what you are talking about. Check out 40 ILCS 15/1.1. The increased pension contribution is provided for in statute and in the House spending plan.
You have bought into the spin. If the Senate believes it is not spin, then I would say that some summer school concurrent with summer session would be appropriate.
- Levois - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 4:32 pm:
Sen. Hendon’s comments reeks of a certain amount of snobbery.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 4:37 pm:
can you use hendon and snobbery in the same sentence?
- annon. - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 4:54 pm:
I hope the Dem’s enjoy this little charade’ they call governing. This is absolutley insane what they’re doing …. as if they’ve got all the time in the world. Fact is these “clods” know that the budget rolls around this time each & every year & pre-preparation often begins in the late fall of the year previous. What the hell ?? And, why doesn’t somebody hide the keys to that damn plane & tell Blago to keep his A$$ in Spfld till this is resolved. What’s the estimate now…..$76,000.00 since late May going back & forth. Put his butt on a train !!!
This is screwing with the already shakey integretity of this state & soon the livelyhoods of thousands of people when the ole’ pay-check stops coming.
- leo - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 5:02 pm:
“We are the House of Lords, they are the House of Commons… We shall not be led by the House of Commons.”
“This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this Illinois…”
- Huh? - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 5:11 pm:
“We are the House of Lords, they are the House of Commons… We shall not be led by the House of Commons.”
From Wikipedia: “The Parliament Act 1911 effectively abolished the power of the House of Lords to reject legislation, or to amend in a way unacceptable to the House of Commons…”
Perhaps the senator should know his subject before shooting off his mouth.
- annon. - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 5:35 pm:
Just another glowing example of the abundent in-eptness running rampant under the dome , of this so-called elected governing body. I’m sure some actually believe it…the House of Lords thing….sad isn’t it…House of Lords. Time to leave Blago out…he’s in-effective, un-skilled, un-qualified & quite frankly insignificant. The proverbial “fly in the ointment”. Just pass something to kee[p the gov’t running & pay-checks coming & tell the boy would “who would be king” to sit his butt down, sign it & get his butt back to the big city. We’ll call him if he’s needed.
- fedup dem - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 5:42 pm:
Huh?, why should “Hot Dog” Hendon start knowing what he is talking about at this late date. This is what happens when you elect a bunch of clowns!
- Budget Watcher - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 5:53 pm:
I thought it was Hendon and Jones who, back in May responded to Republican criticism of the Governor’s budget by saying that it’s easy to be against everything and that it takes real leadership to propose a budget that stands for what you believe in.
Well, I’ve been watching and waiting for three weeks past the scheduled adjournment date and have yet to see a Senate budget. Sen Trotter said it’s premature… gee, I hope the right time comes soon.
- fed up - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 6:00 pm:
Blagos spent $76,000 since may on airfare for the state plane. Thats money that could pay a teachers salary or go towards uninsured children or buy the high school football uniforms the gov is worried about, but no its wasted giving gov Elvis first class airfare to and from the capitol this guys a joke I hope the state plane goes down.
- A Citizen - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 6:02 pm:
No audio from Nixblago? Even Sheila’s escaping down the back elevator now too??? Barnum & Bailey are rolling over in their graves. What a horrible JOKE.
- steve schnorf - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 6:08 pm:
Captain;
I may be wrong, but perhaps not much, because to raise the spending side much (which the House Rs might be persuaded to do) you have to raise the revenue side, which I don’t see the House Rs going along with.
- Bill - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 6:16 pm:
There is always the GRT.
- Lainer - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 6:20 pm:
Ok folks, now I’m getting really worried and need to know… anybody out there who works (or once worked) for the state and lived through the last payless payday (in ‘91 I think…) just how long did you have to wait for your paycheck, and did it cause you any serious hardship?
I would think that, if rational people were in charge, some kind of last-minute stopgap spending plan might be arrived at (like in ‘04) but I’m not betting on it this time. Blago is definitely crazy enough to WANT a government shutdown/payless payday just to prove his “testicular virility.” I’m just glad he isn’t president and doesn’t have his finger on the nuclear button.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 6:25 pm:
THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT TIF DISTRICTS TODAY?!?!
are you kidding me?
yesterday it was gephart. today tifs?
who is running these meetings?
- steve schnorf - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 6:25 pm:
I see a next big stumbling block being the pension payment. If a 1 month budget is passed, does it have to include the pension funding or the continuing approp have to be statutorily changed again? This could get quite interesting. It’s going to get to the point where not all leaders are going to keep all members off of bad votes.
- Budget Watcher - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 6:32 pm:
Does a 1 month budget need to have a BIMP bill in order to implement? I always thought the details, the more interesting stuff was in the BIMP bill.
- steve schnorf - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 6:38 pm:
BW, I don’y know for sure how much things have changed. My intuitive answer would be yes, a BIMP would be needed. Certain rates would need to be frozen so new rates don’t take effect. Something would probably have to be done about the pension continuing approp. But, I really don’t know enough about it to be sure anymore.
- Lainer - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 6:45 pm:
What does BIMP mean?
- steve schnorf - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 6:53 pm:
Budget implementation; makes statutory changes necessary as a result of the budget adopted
- He Who Helps Themselves - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 6:56 pm:
Is It “Our” Party or “Their” Party? By Senator Chris Lauzen
IT’S ROD’S PARTY!
- Cat - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 7:48 pm:
Mr. Schnorf: You know far more about the State of Illinois budget than the children running around the Capitol.
- headsupchicagoland - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 8:44 pm:
Poor Rod, he wants to be like Richie, but he doesn’t have 50 mopes.
- Sorry about your mom, Ricky - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 9:03 pm:
Hendon is just… breathtaking. You can’t say anything more than that, he’s just… you have to just put him on a spotlit, rotating pedestal and admire the work of art that he is…. truly, a unique individual. (okay the milk is shooting out of my nose as I write this now, can you BELIEVE his comments today? A new level of Hendonness was reached today, to be storied in sagas thru the ages…)
Blago and Emil trying to play chicken with the looming deadline as a way to force everyone back to the GRT? That’s going to blow up in both their faces.
“Think you used enough dynamite there, Butch?”
- Lainer - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 9:12 pm:
“One hears such sounds, and what can one say but… Salieri?”
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 9:15 pm:
Sorry…Ricky: LOL!!
- A Citizen - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 9:27 pm:
What is the line of succession? Blago, then Quinn, then ??? Just wondering. Madagin ??
- Holdingontomywallet - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 9:28 pm:
Great job Democrats, great job. You won the House, Office of the Governor, and the Senate and now you have shown your true colors. How many days until the next election?
- Dan, a voter - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 9:44 pm:
Please, someone get some common sense and end this circus. We need “leaders” and “public servants” not village idiots!!!!!
- Captain America - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 9:45 pm:
Schnorf,
I agree with your observation about the likelihood that House R’s will be willing to enhance renveues significantly. That’s why I conisider Snator Jones and Governor Blagojevich complete and utter bunglers. Reasonable compormises should have been made before the may 31 deadline. Maidgan would have been willing to make some kind of deal if the Governor and Jones had not been so recalcitrant.
- A Citizen - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 9:48 pm:
Dan - Circus?? You ain’t seen nothing yet. Maybe, in protest, we should start a drive to send them bags of peanuts - lots of em. Seems fitting.
- Truth - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 10:02 pm:
Ladies & Gentlemen, the Emil/Ricky show.
Supermajority. Full support of the Governor. And all they can pass is a resolution saying Madigan’s budget doesn’t spend enough - on June 20th?
Pathetic is the word.
Ineffective is another.
Cotton candy for everyone.
- A Citizen - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 10:19 pm:
Bill, you smellin the bacon yet? I thought I got a whiff of it earlier.
- demgrrl - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 11:18 pm:
schnorf,
I think they’d run a bill based on a 12 month budget, but with approp for only one month. But, I don’t think they’d need a bimp bill to go along with that under this scenario.
- steve schnorf - Wednesday, Jun 20, 07 @ 11:32 pm:
demgrrl
Would the entire pension continuing approp have to come out of that approp? Would nursing home rates automatically go up w/o a BIMP?
- demgrrl - Thursday, Jun 21, 07 @ 12:14 am:
Schnorf,
I can’t recall how the 2004 one month budget was crafted specifically, but I believe the pensions would just get 1/12th of what they’d be due for the year based on existing actuarial analysis. I don’t think that nursing home rates would automcatically go up under a one month budget, but when they GA and gov finalize a 12 month budget (hopefully) they could adjust it to reflect rate increases for various providers (and probably make them retroactive).
- dupage progressive - Thursday, Jun 21, 07 @ 2:25 am:
What a joke!
Yes, looks like we’ll be here for a while until these idiots stop the “no, I’m more important” show…
And whoever thinks that the senate or Emil somehow “gave it back to the speaker”, you are insane.
Just look at the headlines from today:
HEADLINE #1:
State Senate Votes About, Though Not On, Budget
HEADLINE #2:
Senate rejects House budget plan; offers no alternate
Soooooooo, for those bored enough to follow these articles (I’m sure there are not many throughout the state right now…), they only think the senate is ridiculous in not passing a budget.
So, the speaker can CONTINUE to say “THe house has passed a budget”, and what can the senate say now??
“Well, we’ve passed this meaningless non-binding/waste of time resolution that says the house budget is a bad idea.”
Oh, okay, way to go senate.
What a bunch of buffoons.
You really showed the house.
I bet they are laughing their butts off right now in the speaker’s office because they played right into their hands by not only NOT passing their own budget, they are totally on the defensive.
The Hendon stuff is so beyond ridiculous it speaks for itself and is indicative of the clowns in the senate & how far out of reality they truly are.
Welcome to kindergarten - members please be in your chairs.
- Bill - Thursday, Jun 21, 07 @ 4:48 am:
DuPage,
I admire you for being a progressive in DuPage County. It must be very lonely. The Senate resolution is no more or less ridiculous than the House resolution that supposedly tubed the GRT concept. They are both “equal strength”. While they may be meaningless, the resolutions do indicate the positions of the two dem leaders, if not the whole of both bodies. The solution obviously lies somewhere in between. There needs to be compromise. The Governor and the President have indicated the willingness to compromise. What about the House? Read the Senate resolution which delineates the problems with the so called budget passed by the House. Aside from being unconstitutionally unbalanced, it provides no relief for the 1.4 million Illinoisians without access to health care, does not address school funding reform,provides for no improvement in public safety and medicare payments, and basically is based on false assumptions of revenue growth and the natural increase in expenses due to inflation. There are many obvious solutions. It is time to play let’s make a deal. I agree that they are probably laughing in the Speaker’s office right now. Maybe they should take their responsibilities a little more seriously. Has the House passed a budget? Yes, if you can call it that. I am counting on the Senate to do the right thing and not settle for the same old inadequate thing. We, the people, shall prevail.
- Budget Watcher - Thursday, Jun 21, 07 @ 6:14 am:
You realize Bill, that on any negotiated compromise, the Senate President will have a very hard time delivering 35 votes and that Madigan has to have Republican support. In addition, we’ve yet to see any Senate budget and we’re three weeks into overtime. So we don’t even know what the Senate will support…. the Dem leaders, and I use that term with a wry smile on my face, have already missed their opportunity for a compromise. The best they can hope for is way to save face with the electorate, and try to shift some of the blame for a resulting bad budget onto the R’s.
- steve schnorf - Thursday, Jun 21, 07 @ 8:11 am:
BW; takes 36