* Oops. I forgot to link Rich’s syndicated column this week on Blago’s ‘political’ veto

* Pork plays its own politics

On one hand, it’s a rare opportunity — especially for suburban politicians — to bring home state tax dollars. Without it, “we wouldn’t see anything,” state Sen. John Millner, a Carol Stream Republican said.

That’s because household incomes and high property values tend to disqualify many suburban communities for state funding through traditional bureaucracies.

The idea behind letting members add on to the budget is that they know best what’s needed back home.
On the other hand, questionable projects and the secretive nature of it all leads to inevitable criticism.

* Illinois budget standoff ended

* Insulting to call it ‘pork’

* Gov’s budget moves ’so political’

* Governor’s plan for health care in panel’s hands

* Special sessions aren’t so special

* Hilkevitch: RTA still on fast track to cuts

The sad reality that the state’s politicians are allowing the mobility of the Chicago region to go down to the wire indicates to many observers that the RTA’s “Moving Beyond Congestion” campaign on behalf of increased mass-transit funding has failed miserably, while enriching politically connected RTA consultants hired to run the campaign.

“I think the evidence suggests that the RTA legislative strategy was a bust,” said Joseph Schofer, a transportation professor at Northwestern University. “They sang a song of [CTA and Metra] line extensions while the system was going down. And they did not deliver on long-promised reforms. It’s bad.”

House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) has promised to try to resolve the monthslong stalemate between the General Assembly and Blagojevich, who vows to veto any new taxes, in time to prevent the impending transit doomsday.

* Editorial: At least state finally has a budget, but game not over

* Editorial: State budget a bust for the suburbs

* Editorial: Tale of a greedy gov

* Schoenburg: Dillard on budget