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This just in…
Wednesday, Jul 9, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller * 3:47 pm: The governor filed another special session proclamation today requiring the General Assembly to take up his line item and reduction vetoes, but he hasn’t yet unveiled any vetoes. Here’s the proclamation. Page 1 and page 2 [fixed link]. * 4:16 pm - The Senate has received the vetoes for its bills, but the Senate appropriations bills were relatively small. Nothing is posted online as of right now. The House approp bill was the big one, but as of this moment the House has not yet received the governor’s veto message. * 4:46 pm - From the Associated Press…
* 4:53 pm - A representative of the City of Chicago is testifying to the House COTW right now about the mayor’s opposition to the gaming bill. The city did not testify against the bill when it zoomed out of the Senate.
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- Wumpus - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 3:49 pm:
Yes, keep wasting money! McKenna, are you awake? Do something about this, make it the issue that it is and narrow the D majority.
- Vote Quimby! - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 3:51 pm:
So are his vetoes secret as well? Are they on a list like the IDOT projects where lawmakers can see them but can’t take them out of the room?
- Magic Dragon - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 3:55 pm:
Wow…how can he issue a special session proclamation on line item vetoes he has only threatened and not issued. What is the General Assembly suppose to do with that??? Once again, all smoke and no action.
- The Unlicensed Hand Surgeon - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 3:55 pm:
I still say total veto and Senate will pass bare bones.
- The Unlicensed Hand Surgeon - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 3:56 pm:
…which gov will not sign, state workers will get paid, contractors will get stiffed for a couple months, but the gov won’t take the blame. It will go into effect without his signature.
- OneManBlog - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 4:01 pm:
So will he push it past 4 days?
- The Unlicensed Hand Surgeon - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 4:02 pm:
No. Senate can pass bare bones tomorrow.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 4:02 pm:
The special session is for today, so I really, really doubt he’ll force them to stay in longer than tomorrow, but one never knows anything for sure with this governor.
- John Bambenek - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 4:05 pm:
So far he’s only 2 days of 4 down. But what is the point of passing same day special session proclamations again? They’re already in town.
- OneManBlog - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 4:13 pm:
=The special session is for today=
That brings up an interesting question, what is a ‘day’. If he calls them into special session at 11:50 PM and they stay in session past 12:01 AM is it a new ‘day’ or the same day?
Could he call them back into special a third time today?
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 4:14 pm:
“What is the point of passing same day special session proclamations again?”
To drive the House Clerk nuts?
- John Bambenek - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 4:17 pm:
Why doesn’t he just pen a special session proclamation to discuss who has better hair… it isn’t like those discussions aren’t happening in the Capitol now…
*ducks*
- Muskrat - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 4:19 pm:
So did the gov actually wait until the Potemkin debate on the House was over before issuing the vetoes?
Get a load of that letterhead, by the way — very 1937. Or has copperplate scrollwork suddenly become hip aagin? Did I miss another internet trend, or is the State still working through a 70-year old puirchase order of tacky stationery?
- Ivote - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 4:26 pm:
At the risk of being banned, I’ve gotta tell ya’–I am beginning to wonder whether this guy may truly be completely nuts, as in seriously mentally ill. More than a sociopath (and I do think Madigan’s folks hit the nail on the head on that one), he seems to be living in a totally different reality. It’s as if he repeats his mantra over and over and over and over again (pass the revenue bills, pass the revenue bills)and invokes the magic word “Special session” it will all of a sudden just happen! He seems to have absolutely no understanding of negotiating, no comprehension that the legislature does not work FOR him but is a co-equal branch of government, and no understanding that no matter how much he yells and cries and has his tantrums, Speaker Madigan is NOT going to give in to the rants of this petulant child. . . er, Governor. If the Governor had a working brain, he’d understand the need to work WITH others to achieve goals. If he’s not nuts, then he truly does NOT want to achieve his goals, but wants only the press pop for proposing them and some “bad guy” to blame when his ideas go no where. That gets back, I suppose, to the sociopath. Really, I’m not being mean–I just wonder WHAT IN THE HELL IS WRONG WITH THIS GUY?????????????????
- John Bambenek - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 4:27 pm:
Am I reading those PDFs wrong, or did he call the special session for 2:28pm? i.e. an hour before he sent them?
- Vote Quimby! - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 4:27 pm:
Reminds me of that Seinfeld episode where Kramer and Newman are composing a hate letter…. exclamation point!
- John Bambenek - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 4:29 pm:
Is it normal to refer to the Governor as His Excellency??
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 4:29 pm:
His Excellency is his formal title.
- John Bambenek - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 4:31 pm:
Learn something new every day… seems rather aristocratic to me, but whatev.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 4:31 pm:
He formally transmitted the proclamation at 2:15 pm today.
- John Bambenek - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 4:31 pm:
When did he transmit the vetoes he wants them to discuss?
- Huckleberry - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 4:32 pm:
Will this second special for today be considered a new session day?
- Vote Quimby! - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 4:32 pm:
Wow….13 minutes. At least he left time for a potty break.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 4:34 pm:
===Will this second special for today be considered a new session day?===
No.
- Vote Quimby! - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 4:35 pm:
==Unless the House passes the revenue bills==
Not gonna happen.
- Don't Worry, Be Happy - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 4:47 pm:
What, no press release?
- Capitol View - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 4:58 pm:
no press release on what he has vetoed, no explanation - yet I assume that he will request 100% acceptance of whatever it is that he did.
I think that I am trapped in the audience of a Gilbert and Sullivan performance rather than observing a state government at work…
- A Citizen - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 5:15 pm:
The wheels of government turn exceedingly slow but exceedingly…click…click…click…THUNK!
- jj - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 5:56 pm:
There you go - he made the cuts.
No bluff
- Little Egypt - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 6:09 pm:
Rich, you surely are joking about referring to the Governor of Illinois as His Excellency. His (Your) Excellency is reserved for only clerical and religious orders. Governor ACT20 isn’t quite there yet.
- A Citizen - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 6:19 pm:
- Little Egypt -
You are overlooking - HE wrote the memo and he “thinks” he is! Don’t believe what Rich says, we know better, huh?
- Bookworm - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 6:37 pm:
LE, it’s true, governors have the title of Excellency (as do Catholic bishops). In the case of Blago, however, the title should be changed to His Incompetency.
Some of you may have noticed that Blago also frequently uses the title “Honorable” before his name, a title usually given to Congressmen; I don’t know if that’s a holdover from when he served in Congress or not. That title, IMO, ought to be changed to “Dishonorable.”
- 4% - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 6:38 pm:
Interesting…issues a special session proclamation at 2:15 p.m. for a special session that is supposed to start 13 minutes later at 2:28 p.m.
Hmm… the same time that the first two opponents were scheduled to testify. Sounds like the Governor is trying to stifle opposition to his grandiose plans.
- nieva - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 7:05 pm:
We are hearing that if a budget is not passed soon the state will go back into shutdown mode,as in little or no spending on anything other than as necessary to maintain the safety of the roads and public.
- Bill - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 7:08 pm:
The Governor is entitled to the title Honorable as are all elected officials as well as appointed officials whose appointment require Senate approval. The title is for life. Once an honorable always an honorable. The Governor is also entitled to the official title of His Excellency. Both titles are duly deserved. An ACT score of 20 puts him in the upper 10% of all Chicago Public School graduates. Also, he passed the bar exam on his first try unlike some other elected officials I could but won’t name.
He may not be in the genius category but is certainly not dumb. He can name the winners of every World Series and give the starting lineups for all Cubs teams dating back to WWII.
- Ghost - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 7:11 pm:
The gov issued a special procolomation today calling a special session for today?
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 7:12 pm:
His Virility?
(No, he can never live it down).
- Bill - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 7:12 pm:
Checkmate, Speaker!!! Take that!
- A Citizen - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 7:17 pm:
Bill. I wish the game was so rich, however, I seriously think someone needs to get the strait-jacket ready for guv. He is about ready to go off the deep end. His recent “moves” have been erratic and simply strange.
- Bill - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 7:23 pm:
A,
While some of His Excellency’s moves may seem strange to us outsiders, they really are all part of a well conceived plan. The Honorable Rod is always thinking several moves ahead. He is playing chess while the rest of us, except maybe Emil and Jay, are all playing checkers. Wait and see how this all plays out! Are they still at it in the House?
- steve schnorf - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 7:31 pm:
gotta love ya, Bill
- Danny - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 7:31 pm:
Definition of sociopath. http://www.mcafee.cc/Bin/sb.html It hits on so many points.
- jj - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 7:41 pm:
Wait - I don’t get it - all of y’all were begging him to just make the cuts. He does, now, ….. I don’t get it.
Get the House dems out of there and let Cross take control.
- A Citizen - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 7:41 pm:
- Danny -
Check out “megalomania” in Wikipedia - it’s an even better match. So we now have at least two diagnoses of mental disability. Time to shine the spotlight on the elephant in the room (I).
- Truth - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 7:42 pm:
If it’s a well conceived plan to become the worst Governor in the state’s history and end up in jail, then the master plan is right on schedule. Almost complete I’d say. Worst Governor, check. Jail, work in progress.
- Gregor - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 8:22 pm:
Regarding “Excellency” have you ever heard Madigan when it is time for the state of the state speech? House rules are, the gov. has to formally request entrance to the chamber and this is granted by the speaker. It is always a hoot to hear Madigan’s voice as he makes a point of using a special tone of voice when he intones, “Admit His Excellency, the Honorable Governor”.
Whenever he says that, I always expect to see Edgar or Thompson walking in….
- John Bambenek - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 8:26 pm:
The gov just slashed $1.6B with his veto pen. Saying the budget is $2.2B out of whack and that signing it would be signing a check that would bounce, he decided it was far better to bounce $800 million instead.
In unrelated news, I’m wearing this shirt today. Complete accident, but did make me think of the session today.
- Little Egypt - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 8:27 pm:
I can be pretty anal about etiquette. A governor of one of the 50 United States MAY be referred to as His/Her Excellency. It is not proper, however, to do so.
- Bookworm - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 8:40 pm:
Guess this means next week’s paychecks are safe, at least for those whose job or program didn’t get cut.
- Princeville - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 8:54 pm:
nah, that other $800,000 goes under ‘belt tightening’ and shifting funds. Wonder how much more he can sqeeze the belt on some agencies before they pop?
- Bill - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 9:04 pm:
Not only is it proper it is required when formerly referring to the Governor. It is a traditional honorific that goes back to the early 1800s. Every Resolution passed by the GA uses the rightful title when referring to the governor like this example from last year:
“BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that the two Houses shall convene in Joint Session on Wednesday, March 07, 2007 at the hour of 12:00 o’clock noon for the purpose of hearing his Excellency Governor Rod Blagojevich present to the General Assembly his Report on the Condition of the State of Illinois and to hear the Budget Message for the Fiscal Year 2008, as required by Chapter 15, Section 20/50-5 of the Illinois Compiled Statutes.”
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 9:21 pm:
I have heard Rod called a lot of things down here and His Excellency isnt one of them
- Bookworm - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 9:28 pm:
Our agency was already holding to last year’s budget level; he cut it another 5 percent! Anyone else notice trends or notice particular agencies that took big hits?
- A Citizen - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 9:28 pm:
Well, good, the budget is now “balanced” and everyone can go home until November. Whew! I thought there was going to be a problem or two? Well, heck. since they are all already in town let’s just go ahead and start that impeachment thing!
- add - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 9:30 pm:
isn’t that 600 million John…and he didn’t decide to cut any, he is forced too. the House and senate could vote to increase revenues to pay for everything, and if he vetoed the tax increase he would be the only one cutting, right now its still a joint effort from both branches
- John Bambenek - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 9:34 pm:
Yeah, it’s 600, brainfart.
- A Citizen - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 9:45 pm:
Let’s see - if we accepted the cuts, impeached him, then Quinn could call a Real special session and the tops, once again trusting, could fix the budget issues and move on a rational cap. pjcts. bill. Yep, works for me! And Illinois wins.
- S. Illinois - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 9:48 pm:
Bill, I wish we could be “formerly” referring to this governor.
- bockrand - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 9:49 pm:
As the spouse of a State employee I am sick and tired of this idiot(RodBlo, of course) holding our livelihood hostage every year.
Will people north of I-80 get on board with voting him out next time?
- chicagopublius - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 9:58 pm:
Legally and constitutionally, the General Assembly could pass a capital bill that itemizes every project of interest to each and every member. And if that were to occur, the bill would easily pass. So the question is this: why doesn’t the Governor cobble together such an approach - itemizing all of the projects necessary to gain passage of the bill? It’s a workable strategy, especially since very few members would run the risk of voting against a bill that identifies by name the projects to be funded in their district. The answer to the question lies in the future - at the time of the next gubernatorial election: If the capital projects are statutorily identified, they will be funded irrespective of whether Rod is the Governor. But that’s not good for Rod; he needs certain legislators to support him in the next gubernatorial race. And a good way to ensure that he gets what he needs is through these mysterious so-called Memoranda of Understanding.
In the brain trust that is Harris-Harris-Quinlan&Greenlee, Rod needs the MOUs to ensure that certain legislators work to get him re-elected. But the strategy cuts the other way: if Rod is not the Governor, the MOUs (even if made in good faith) are not binding on his successor. Look at it like this: If you were a legislator, would you rely on an MOU that might not be honored by Rod, and certainly are not binding on Lisa M. or whoever beats him in the primary or general? MOUs are good for Rod, but they’re not good for legislators, and this is where Rod is caught between Scyla and Charybdis: he needs the MOU approach for future legislative support, but the MOU approach is the very reason that the legislators don’t want to vote for the capital bill.
- Ghost - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 10:44 pm:
The Gov is playing chess alright, only problem is he is using a chinese checkers board and has lost all his marbles.
- Leatherneck - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 10:59 pm:
Looks like the Secretary of State’s office got some big cuts this year–as in 2003, could we now be looking at another dispute over the budget between Blago and Jesse White?
- Gregor - Wednesday, Jul 9, 08 @ 11:45 pm:
Nope, he’s playing Russian Roulette, but not using a revolver…
- Loop Lady - Thursday, Jul 10, 08 @ 6:53 am:
Impeach him-he’s not mentally fit to govern…
- He Makes Ryan Look Like a Saint - Thursday, Jul 10, 08 @ 7:08 am:
He calls them in, and before they can do anything he does this? I am sorry, but WHAT A WASTE of state money.
It is time for Impeachment. The guy is nuts.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Jul 10, 08 @ 8:24 am:
==He may not be in the genius category but is certainly not dumb. He can name the winners of every World Series and give the starting lineups for all Cubs teams dating back to WWII.==
Damn him with faint praise, Bill. You make him sound like Rainman.