39 Comments - Ghost - Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 1:32 pm: Since its talk like a Pirate day Kelly could compromise, not backdate the enrollment, but require the clerk to walk the plank….or maybe a good keelhauling under a riverboat casino - Levois - Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 1:32 pm: This has been a ground breaking year hasn’t it. Now I expect one of these committees of the whole every month. They’re taking the rarity away from it. - Old Elephant - Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 2:05 pm: I wonder if anyone in the Governor’s office noticed that the Senate Secretary didn’t read any vetoes into the record this week. - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 2:06 pm: The Senate can’t read them in until after the House takes action. - Lainer - Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 2:13 pm: For a little perspective on our troubles, you might want to check out these stories about budget battles going on in Michigan and Georgia: http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=224700 http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070918/NEWS06/70918074/1008 The story about intra-party squabbling in Georgia sounds almost word-for-word as if it could have been written here, except in their case it’s Republicans who can’t get their act together. Also, the reader comments on the Michigan story give you an idea of what people might be saying today about Blago if he were female, or about JBT had she won (aside from the fact that JBT would not have had an Office of the First Gentleman). - Madame Defarge - Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 2:16 pm: Rich, The Senate could have (should have?) read in Senate Bills that were vetoed. - A Citizen - Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 2:17 pm: Madagin’s Committee of the Whole allows ALL Representatives to participate in the process. Jones should follow suit when he gets the AVs Bill and allow full senate participation in sustaining or over riding. Dictator style leadership is anathema to the democratic process. Good job, Mr. Speaker! - General Assembly Watcher - Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 2:19 pm: Rich: The Senate Secretary could read in Senate bills vetoed or amendatorily vetoed by the Governor, right? Maybe the Governor hasn’t done that to any Senate Bills? - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 2:19 pm: Constitution… ===The house to which a bill is returned shall immediately enter the Governor’s objections upon its journal. === - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 2:20 pm: OK. Slow today. Now I get ya. lol. Let me check. - KIR - Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 2:22 pm: Committee of the Whole will be meeting on Monday, October 1st - anon - Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 2:29 pm: By my count, the Governor amendatorily vetoed 14 Senate bills. - Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr - Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 2:35 pm: arrrr tighten the bung hole me fellars as the real Pirates swing back to port. By the way Rich thanks for the pirate link. I had no idea that the hole on a wooden cask was called a “bung hole.” Interesting - Pot calling kettle - Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 2:53 pm: I don’t know if this has been brought up in the past, but as I understand it, Madigan’s assertion is that nothing (?has to be/must be/should be?) entered until the House convenes in a regularly scheduled session. The Sept. 4 session was a “special” session; therefore, the vetoes were not logged. If the Senate is following the same rule… - KiR - Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 3:14 pm: If Sept 4 was a “special session” to deal with only mass transit, then why did the House conduct other legislative business that day, i.e. education bill? Plus, the it takes both the Prez and the Speaker to call a one-day session, which is why the Speaker called it a one-day session, further making the Gov’s case that the House was ready to conduct other business. - KiR - Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 3:17 pm: ooops, must have had too much whisky for TLAP Day… I meant to say it takes both House and Senate to call a special session, which is why the Speaker called it a one-day session - budget watcher - Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 3:30 pm: how ironic it is when the governor cuts funding for hiv/aids out of the budget, and then announces that he issuing grants to the same causes. - A Citizen - Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 3:46 pm: - budget watcher - Reminds me of that old cartoon character “Ricochet Rabbit” Bing Bing Boing! - GettingJonesed - Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 3:49 pm: Speaking of Slick Willie Legal Team, I wonder what the pice tag on this little ditty will be: SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich is dropping a case against two state workers he once said was an example of how he fights corruption. The administration will not appeal a ruling that put the pair back on the payroll in August. And neither Blagojevich aides nor those of Attorney General Lisa Madigan will explain why. That means Dawn DeFraties (dih-FRAY’-teez) and Michael Casey will keep their jobs and more than $200,000 in back pay. The two were fired in April 2006 when the administration accused them of manipulating the process for hiring state employees with political connections. Blagojevich said he turned over evidence to federal officials who have been investigating his employment procedures. - Pot calling kettle - Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 4:04 pm: Has anyone looked at past years to see when vetoes were recorded. I would think that precedent might be key to knowing when something has to be logged in. - Crimefighter - Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 4:18 pm: About time he gave up trying to fire those two…he;s filed so many lawsuits he’ll be in the courtroom more than the governors’ mansion! - South of I-80 - Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 4:46 pm: Crimefighter, “he;s filed so many lawsuits he’ll be in the courtroom more than the governors’ mansion.” with all due respect, that’s not saying much! - Norseman - Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 5:21 pm: No need to look at the past. This year is unprecedented. - Norseman - Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 5:23 pm: P.S. For the lack of a better place to mention it. Congratulations to the CMS 2. They’re now free and clear. Another win for Carl Draper! - Cat - Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 5:28 pm: Question on the CMS2: If the state keeps up the battle, would that make them liable for Draper’s fees? Or, are they already on the hook for the fees now? - Norseman - Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 5:31 pm: Cat - Springfield radio has reported that the state has dropped the appeal. Unfortunately, the CMS 2 will not get attorney’s fees. - Papa Legba - Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 5:34 pm: - Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr - And appropriately enough the object placed into the bung hole is called a bung. To get it tight I guess you have to bang the bung. Did you know that the dent in the bottom of a champagne bottle is called a “punt?” - A Citizen - Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 5:41 pm: - Papa Legba - Okay, enough for today, my brain is now full. Tomorrow I will have more room. Thanks - Downstater - Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 5:41 pm: If I had been put up as scapegoats as Dawn and Michael have I would sue Blagojevich for defamation. I would stipulate that it come out of his personal bank account and not taxpayer funds. - A Citizen - Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 5:45 pm: - Downstater - Lisa Madagin turned ALL of the case material over to the Feds. I would expect they will make proper use of the information! - It's Just Me - Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 5:49 pm: KiR at 3:14 — Although the House called in all the Special Sessions (with a capital “s”) all the work took place in a regular session, which was a special session (lower case “s”) simply because the House wasn’t in during the regular spring or veto session. - GettingJonesed - Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 6:10 pm: Anyone notice Tom Cross is saing 3 casinos “too aggressive” for him and his mates. Sounds like Davey Jones locker for this Chapin Rose special. Yeah, did anyone notice Clunky Chief Chapin be da sponsor of the Hendon Express. Nice selection Hollywood. Sounds like all hands are back to Square One 1 or on TLAP Day still at the dock - Newb - Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 8:42 pm: I was perusing the bond authorization bill (SB 785) and noticed something a bit shady. Toward the end of page 18 (sec 4.c.) it shows nearly $1.6 billion for “the development and improvement of educational, scientific … AND THE EXPANSION OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES FOR ALL CITIZENS OF ILLINOIS, including: … [a bunch of worthy items that actually have to do with capital development]”. I’m new to the game, but it sure looks like a back door that Jones put in for his bud Rod to take out loans to expand his health care. - Newb - Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 9:01 pm: Ummm, the capital projects bill (SB 1110) totals a little over $5.4 billion; yet the bond authorization bill (to pay for the capital projects) is for over $44 billion! What’s up with that? Perhaps the extra is to pay off old bonds much like someone would transfer debt from one visa to a new visa? - your answer - Thursday, Sep 20, 07 @ 7:21 am: the $5.4 as I read in the papers this morning is for one year’s worth of the plan since so many repubs voted for the bill, that means Watson was for it and its contents so I wouldn’t spin this as a “jones” plan or “blago” plan - GettingJonesed - Thursday, Sep 20, 07 @ 8:01 am: thank godness they were able to give a special slice to Chicago State…2% of the 1st new boat get deposited into the CSU “world traveler fund”…mean education generally get zip…Nice work…Pate would be proud. - staffgrl - Thursday, Sep 20, 07 @ 8:20 am: To Newb Keep doing whatever you do, but stop analyzing these bills. You are way off on both of your observations about the infrastructure bills. - KiR - Thursday, Sep 20, 07 @ 8:20 am: It’s Just Me… If you read my remarks, you would understand that I was clarifying the point about regular session and Special Session per another comment not asking a question myself. Thanks Captain Grammatical! - staffgrl - Thursday, Sep 20, 07 @ 8:22 am: Chicago State is a good school. The Chicago State part was already in law. It was not added as part of the plan. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.