The confusing mess continues
Monday, Jul 23, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller
* My syndicated column this week takes a look at a curious event that happened last week…
So what the heck was House Speaker Michael Madigan up to last week when he finally came out in support of an income tax increase and urged the governor to drop his opposition to the idea?
Madigan has always been coy about whether he really supports an income tax hike. Most people thought he probably did and that he might somehow be maneuvering the legislative session in that direction. So when he finally announced that he supported the increase, the whole Statehouse took notice.
On one level, it was a response to a letter sent by Gov. Rod Blagojevich earlier in the week demanding that Madigan and the two Republican legislative leaders come up with an alternative revenue stream to fund education. It also was undoubtedly designed to get tongues wagging and freak out the governor, a staunch opponent of a tax hike.
It certainly did both of those. While the Statehouse buzzed with talk of Madigan’s remarks, Gov. Blagojevich reportedly ranted about the income tax idea during a meeting of the legislative leaders, loudly taunting Madigan and others who attended, “Go ahead and pass it,” over and over again. Blagojevich was concerned enough about earlier revelations that Jones and Madigan had been privately talking about the budget and about Jones’ agreement during that days’ leaders meeting that he would work with Madigan to craft a new budget that he kept Jones in his office for several minutes after the other leaders had left.
Please read the whole thing before commenting. Thanks.
* Meanwhile, Team Blagojevich managed to tick off a US Senator…
He released a letter Friday signed by seven members of the U.S. Congress declaring, “It is important that the General Assembly … provide coverage for the working uninsured.”
When CBS 2 told Sen. Dick Durbin his apparent signature was on it, he was surprised.
“Well, that’s a very good question,” Durbin said. “When did we send the letter?”
Durbin said he was confused because the letter was not what the governor’s staff claimed in a press release. Durbin said he was endorsing expanded health care, but not the Blagojevich proposal.
“Well, I think some people either misread what I sent to them, or tried to take advantage of the moment,” Durbin said. “I think the people in Illinois are just fed up with this bickering that has gone on for so darn long.”
* Finke had this interesting tidbit. Senate President Jones, as you may know, is taking all the credit for the electric rate agreement and is participating in a fly-around today to tout the deal with Speaker Madigan and Attorney General Madigan..
Senate President EMIL JONES, D-Chicago, was asked last week if he regretted the way he dealt with an electric rate freeze bill sponsored by Sen. GARY FORBY, D-Benton.
If you remember back a few weeks, the Senate approved the bill, which would have rolled back electric rates to last year’s levels and then frozen them. However, Sen. RICKEY HENDON, D-Chicago, a top Jones lieutenant, used a parliamentary maneuver to nullify the vote, leaving Forby stunned. Jones last week implied he wasn’t involved.
“I’m just the presiding officer,” Jones said.
Um, yeah, and House Speaker MICHAEL MADIGAN, D-Chicago, is just a state representative from Chicago.
* More overtime stories, compiled by Paul and myself…
* What if there’s no budget by August? - State probably would have to set strict priorities
* Legislators rework health-care proposal - New plan would be funded by employer tax
* Pantagraph: Although there is still no budget, not everyone left the Statehouse empty-handed. Blagojevich, a big fan of Elvis Presley, exited the building Friday holding a couple of PEZ candy dispensers of the King.
* * Tribune Editorial: Is there will to help schools?
* Still time before Aug. 1st budget meltdown
* Bernie Schoenburg: Governor’s jogging route takes him past hostile signs
* Settlement will cut rate hike nearly in half
- game plan - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 10:12 am:
You gotta love that Durbin tellin it like it is. — “Well, I think some people either misread what I sent to them, or tried to take advantage of the moment”
- Arthur Andersen - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 10:18 am:
I’ve been thinking this entire OT in Heck (no naughty words here) has been slowly devolving into a long, bad, Seinfeld episode. The appearance of Pez dispensers confirms my fears.
- 312 - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 10:49 am:
I wonder how the Guv’s office is going to react to the full page ads in today’s Trib + Sun Times from A+ Illinois, calling HIM out explicitly to support the income tax increase for education. Its signed by about 500 organizations throughout the state — wonder if any of these will get nasty phone calls or any reduction in state grants?
Bill, do you have your red pen out yet?
- Bill - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 11:06 am:
Yep, it is being worked on as we blog. I sure would like to get one of those Elvis pez dispensers.
- Disgusted - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 11:31 am:
Re: The Newspaper ad…Who cares if they get a phone call or a reduction in state funds. They need to buck up and give the governor back as good as he gives. What’s he gonna do, send the National Guard after them? Everyone who has any interaction with this putz needs to grow a pair.
- Captain America - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 11:37 am:
Madigan continues to outsmart and outmaneuver the Governor and the Senate President without much effort.
Someone informed me that the Sneed item on Friday suggesting a Madigan and Jones deal was not true. Jones supposedly disavowed the Sneed scoop. A Madigan-Jones deal, circumventing the Governor, appears to be only practical way to end this overtime mess.
With sincere apologies to State employees,I think a short shut-down is probably necessary and inevitable to bring this session to a conclusion.
The Governor’s scaled-back health plan for the uninsured sounds fairly reasonable. It appears to be a case of “too-little-compromise too- late”, particularly since he has so throughly alienated so many legislators.I’m actively rooting for the scaled-back proposal with an effective date of next June to overcome the necessity of a supermajority.
Sorry to read that Emil Jones has been in poor physical health. Maybe this will provide a less divisive, face-saving means for him to step down from the Senate Presidency, rather than being dumped by the Democratic caucus, because I think his political future as Senate President is zilch based upon his terrible performance this session. Personally I wish him well in terms of health and happiness and continiued success as a senior influential Senator or as a retiree. Poltically,it think it is time for the end of his reign as Senate President.
- 312 - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 11:40 am:
I think its GREAT these groups finally stood up to GRod, but don’t give him any ideas about sending out the Guard — his plane would probably have to fly them back from Iraq anyways.
What surprised me was some of the groups on there - DL21C, IVI, DeKalb + DuPage Dems, etc. Difficult groups for him to ‘dismiss’ as ‘having a vested interest.’
- HOT ROD MOVIE - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 12:02 pm:
Rich, you should open up a question on the text for an “annoying sign” for Hot Rod’s jogging path. If you ask nice, I’ll bet Johnson would let you place the sign in her yard in exchange for one of your t-shirts or a donation to a charity of her choice…. A caption contest with a payoff.
- Disgusted - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 2:55 pm:
Bill, you can get those Pez dispensers at Walgreens. You don’t have to sell your soul for it.
- Cassandra - Monday, Jul 23, 07 @ 3:23 pm:
I wonder what kind of insurance businesses would have to purchase in order to avoid the tax. Is the tax pegged so that it isn’t cheaper for businesses to buy plans with high deductibles and minimum benefits. If not, a lot of people may end up with cut-rate health insurance that provides very inadequate coverage, especially if they become really ill. But technically, they will be covered.
Looks like, overall, in the battle between health care and education for state dollars, health care is losing. It’s a citizen’s choice, I guess. But let’s remember that state education money comes with few strings attached. Communities can use it to increase the district sup’s salary to $300,000 a year, build expensive swimming pools, and hand out really nice contracts to local pols and their pals. And they will.
Guess those Illinoisians who lack affordable health insurance better stop smoking, lose weight, and start praying.