A united House rebuffs the guv
Thursday, Jul 12, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I don’t think I’ve ever seen the Illinois House as united as it was yesterday…
The governor’s call to spend an entire special session on gun control (the eighth special session) backfired Wednesday. One sponsor of the gun control legislation, Chicago Democratic Rep. Harry Osterman, repeated what he’s been saying for the past few days: He will not call the legislation for a vote until it has enough votes for approval. That will take 71, to which Osterman said, “This bill will not get 71 votes … It would be irresponsible of me the sponsor of this legislation to call this bill for a vote, knowing that it’s going to fail.”
In fact, if the bill is amended to need only 60 votes, as Osterman intends to do, the effective date will be June of 2008. “June of 2008,” he repeated on the House floor. “So if passed with 60 votes, it won’t take effect until June. So there is no need to rush a vote today or tomorrow.”
Osterman will have to work to gain the votes on the controversial measure, but, he said, “Today is not that day. We need to be focused on the budget of our state. That is our collective priority.”
House members clapped as he closed his comments.
The governor responded with a letter to House Speaker Michael Madigan that said, “I urge you to convene a Committee of the Whole to limit access to deadly large capacity ammunition clips. Giving the full House an opportunity to hear from law enforcement officials, anti-gun violence advocates and victims’ families will help us move closer to consensus on this important issue.” He said he looked forward to working with the sponsor and the speaker’s office to get the bill approved.
I seriously doubt that Osterman will ask that a Committee of the Whole be convened. Such a move would be far too divisive, and almost the entire House seems focused on keeping the pressure on Gov. Blagojevich to cut a budget deal.
* Rep. Osterman also repeated something yesterday that he had told me earlier this week…
Osterman said he talked about the gun bill with Blagojevich advisers over the weekend, before the governor called the special session.
“I suggested that I didn’t think a special session on this or a Committee of the Whole at this point in time, given that we’re in a budget impasse, would be the most productive thing to get the bill passed,” Osterman said.
He also insisted that Madigan has in no way blocked approval of the measure, noting, “He’s been supportive all the way through.”
* More from the Tribune…
The governor has declared that lawmakers must remain in Springfield until they reach a budget deal, calling them each day into special sessions that have dealt with issues mostly linked to fiscal matters.
But his call for passage of the gun-magazine bill in the middle of the budget debate angered lawmakers on both sides of the gun-control debate. They said Blagojevich’s efforts were aimed at splitting House lawmakers over the budget. Democrats and Republicans have stood solidly against the governor’s plans for major increases in spending but are sharply divided over gun control.
- Leroy - Thursday, Jul 12, 07 @ 8:58 am:
Wow…so the members of the House are more concerned with POLITICS and making people look bad than they are about gun violence, huh?
Looks like the governor was right.
- Pro-Gunner - Thursday, Jul 12, 07 @ 9:06 am:
June 2008 will give gun-owners plenty of time to stock up on large capacity magazines. I am considering buying a gross of them as I have a large family. Yes, I am being sarcastic in case any anti-gunners are silly enough to take me seriously.
- c-rock - Thursday, Jul 12, 07 @ 9:07 am:
Hey Leroy,
please tell me how this bill will stop crime, or gun violence in Chicago.
The CTA shooting was done by a 16 yr old, who got a gun from a 15 yr old.
The 13 yr old girl killed on the playground, was killed by a 19yr. Who was ordered to shoot by a illegal alien, who was a felon, and was never deported.
Gunowners are not the problem. Citizens exercising their god-given rights aint the problem.
We are tired of taking the blame. Blame the decay of society.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 12, 07 @ 9:48 am:
so basically the money spent on yesterdays special session was a waiste? What a joke.
- Just Because - Thursday, Jul 12, 07 @ 10:37 am:
I am with C-Rock. You hit the nail on the head.
- The 'Broken Heart' of Rogers Park - Thursday, Jul 12, 07 @ 11:25 am:
Our old buddy Tim Nieukirk looks better and better all the time.
- RMW Stanford - Thursday, Jul 12, 07 @ 11:35 am:
Why did the General Assembly waste there time on this instead of using for the budget or even ethics reforms, which has more support.
My biggest problem with this bill isn’t being scared that it the first step in taking my guns away, that wont happen, but that it a cosmetic measure that will have little or no real effect on crime in the state. All it will do is give a few lawmakers the chance to pat themselves on the back and say they are doing something about crime.
- Patriot - Thursday, Jul 12, 07 @ 11:37 am:
Hooray, the Gov “united” the house. I knew he could do it.
- downhereforyears - Thursday, Jul 12, 07 @ 12:03 pm:
The Governor should be ashamed of himself for parading out those poor victims family members in an attempt to embarass Madigan. Each time he pulls one of these stunts he proves to all that this is all about Madigan.
- NimROD - Thursday, Jul 12, 07 @ 12:18 pm:
“The Governor should be ashamed of himself for parading out those poor victims family members in an attempt to embarrass Madigan.”
Shame requires a conscience. The Governor has none. He had it removed prior to starting his career in politics.
- Pro-Gunner - Thursday, Jul 12, 07 @ 12:51 pm:
RMW:
I do not share your confidence that passing SB1007 will not be the first step in taking our guns away. SB16 (Daley Gun Grab) will be the second step. Gun owners need to send a strong message to Springfield. No more gun bans!
- game plan - Thursday, Jul 12, 07 @ 1:15 pm:
This governor has turned into a meglamaniac. Osterman has been there as long as I have been visiting Springfield which is since 02. He knows how best to get something done. The Gov should concentrate on compromising his platform to get something accomplished. A leader needs to look at the whole picture. Unfortunately, he’s creating the up coming shutdown and taking great pride in that fact by blaming others for his own undoing. God help us all. Someone close to him has to do the “Cher” slap and say “Snap out of it.”
- FED UP - Thursday, Jul 12, 07 @ 1:22 pm:
and what did the senate do today, give E. Jones grand kids or play cousins secret state contracts, or will that be done on friday .
- Squideshi - Thursday, Jul 12, 07 @ 5:57 pm:
Did Blagojevich actually use the word CONSENSUS? Does he even know what that means? It seems to me that he’s trying to divide an conquer–not achieve consensus. More greenwashing?