Smoke
Friday, Jul 20, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller
* This is kinda bogus…
Illinois Senate President Emil Jones said Thursday that Gov. Rod Blagojevich will have to accept a scaled-back version of his plan to give every Illinoisan access to health care.
The governor is already drafting a majorly scaled-back health insurance plan and Jones obviously knows it because he’s lobbying his members to support it. Whatever.
* More…
On Wednesday, House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, broached the idea of an income tax increase, even though Blagojevich has said he will veto any increase in the income or state sales tax. On Thursday, Jones said he isn’t sure how the Senate would vote if the House approved an income tax hike.
“We haven’t done any real polling on that issue,” said Jones, who personally is for an income tax increase. “It would take (Republican) support to get that passed.”
But Patty Schuh, spokeswoman for Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson, R-Greenville, said later, “I don’t think there’s any support (among Republicans) for an income tax increase.”
So, now Jones “personally is for” an income tax hike? First he put it back on the table, then he said the Senate would give it serious consideration if the House passed it and now he’s personally for it? I wonder if he said those actual words.
Also, it wouldn’t take 36 votes to pass an income tax hike if they put off the effective date to June 1 of next year. But it’s true that there are no Senate GOP votes for such a proposal, at least not yet (and probably never).
* Sneed…
Sneed hears powerful House Speaker Michael Madigan may be on the verge of pulling the legislative coup of the decade.
• • Translation: Word is Madigan has a deal to pass a budget acceptable to the House and Senate, and has mustered enough votes to pass a veto-proof package. […]
• • The stats: Word is the package includes no major expenditures for capital projects; modest growth for increased revenues; and some increases in social programs close to the Democratic Party.
• • The chat: Springfield observers tell Sneed Madigan has cut deals with erstwhile Blago supporter, Senate President Emil Jones. Stay tuned for Tuesday.
It ain’t there yet.
* More end of session stuff, compiled by Paul…
* Chicago Public Radio: Lots of inaction in Springfield
* $452,100 and we’re counting
* Eric Krol: Legislative endgame could be crying game for legislators
* Jones sees chance to help schools
* State may shut off electricity auctions
* Vote on rate relief package likely next week, says Jones
* Editorial: Use rebates to bolster sales of Illinois made vehicles
* State agencies may grind to a halt
- Siyotanka - Friday, Jul 20, 07 @ 9:54 am:
and Mirrors….
- Captain America - Friday, Jul 20, 07 @ 10:18 am:
Sneed scoop is good news for everyone, but the Governor. As I and many others have predicted, Madigan and Jones have cut a deal without the Governor. They had little alternative, given the Governor’s irrational political strategy, tactics,and behavior.
- Up His Medications - Friday, Jul 20, 07 @ 10:27 am:
Considering Governor Blagojevich effectiveness since the first of this year. To bad the state can’t lay him off or better yet eliminate his job description. Like he did to so many good and effective state employees the last five years.
- Captain America - Friday, Jul 20, 07 @ 10:29 am:
I am personally convinced that the auction system is,in effect, a gigantic corporate rip-off, designed solely to beneftit the energy industry at the expsnsze of consumers. The tentative plan to establish an Illinois Power Authority seems like a reasonable effort to create a hybrid arrangent between the former public utility model and ad deregulated, so-called ‘compettive model.
Let’s all keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best! Remember the Enron-California debacle. It can happen here!
- True Comparison - Friday, Jul 20, 07 @ 10:46 am:
Why would Emil need Republican votes, with a simple majority or a super majority required? 37 Dems = 63%. Smoke…………….. and Mirrors!
- Old Democrat - Friday, Jul 20, 07 @ 10:49 am:
I so, look forward, to House Speaker Michael Madigan pulling off the legislative coup of the decade.
Blagojevich is worthless!
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jul 20, 07 @ 10:51 am:
Like I said above, Sneed may be getting ahead of herself here. We’ll know next week.
- FED UP - Friday, Jul 20, 07 @ 11:01 am:
This isnt going to happen E.Jones and Blago are joined at the hip niether cares about illinois taxpayers just no bid state contracts for friends family and campaign “contributors”.
- Independent - Friday, Jul 20, 07 @ 11:03 am:
I wouldn’t take for granted a scoop Sneed wrote about where Harrison Ford dined, let alone one about a possible budget deal.
- A Citizen - Friday, Jul 20, 07 @ 1:14 pm:
MM and EJ to Gov - “Check & Mate” !
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jul 20, 07 @ 1:34 pm:
As I noted above,AC,that doesn’t appear to be the case. At least not yet. She got ahead of herself.
- Bill - Friday, Jul 20, 07 @ 1:36 pm:
A,
Don’t get all excited just yet.
- Esteban - Friday, Jul 20, 07 @ 2:51 pm:
And the title of Blago’s autobiography
will be………..”Left Behind”.
- VanillaMan - Friday, Jul 20, 07 @ 2:53 pm:
I hope Sneed is not right.
It will be a sad day when the political situation in Illinois forces a Speaker of the House and a Majority Leader of the Senate to work around a governor.
Blagojevich would have damaged the Office with such a historical precedent.
We need everyone doing their jobs, even when a governor is a fool. We do not need a General Assembly driven state government. We need a governor - an executive officer - doing their job as constitutionally designed.
If Sneed is correct, then Blagojevich should just resign. It would be final proof of his uselessness. His failure to compromise, build teams, lead staffers, listen to advice, and show up for work is ruining the office he was elected TWICE to do.
Thanks Democrats for elevating Rod Blagojevich, with his many personal and political flaws into the governor’s office. Your Party should be ashamed of it’s willingness to elect anyone, regardless of ability, to statewide office.
After 30 years out of the governor’s office, this is the best you can do for us?