* Will Governor Blagojevich mess with the supplemental appropriation and special funds sweep bills passed by the Senate this week and previously approved by the House?
Signs may point to yes…
The governor’s budget office [on Wednesday] found problems with $50.7 million of the sweeps, including $11 million it contends is not surplus, but already among general funds and budgeted for other purposes.
There’s $14.5 million officials say can’t be touched because of court action or because it’s for federal programs, $8 million that would be “borrowed” and further delay medical care payments; and $17 million from funds they say won’t be left with sufficient balances to pay for their intended purposes.
* Remember, Blagojevich’s adminstration also issued an unusually gloomy report the same day the Senate and the House cut a deal on about $230 million in spending restorations for things like CTA discount programs, state parks and historic sites, alcohol and substance abuse programs, etc.
And has been reported before, the Senate Democratic budgeteer claimed that the governor tried and failed to insert $45 million in addtional spending into the final plan.
So…
…there’s nothing that would prevent the governor from adding spending for pet programs through an amendatory veto. That could force the Legislature back to Springfield to accept or override it.
[CLARIFICATION: I kinda breezed through that AP graf, but as noted by a commenter, the governor cannot add new spending to an appropriations bill. He can only reduce or remove.]
* And…
…because a legislative appropriation doesn’t require a governor to spend, he could sign the bill and hold some money back. He could refuse to open parks or historic sites in districts governed by legislative enemies.
* Somewhat related…
Breaking News Update: Judge lets IDOT move lawsuit proceed
* Taxpayer-funded report raises questions over Pontiac prison closure
* Attorney general wants suit against IDOT move tossed
* Hynes doesn’t trust Blagojevich with budget cuts
* State budget fight affects disabled; group homes face uncertain future
* Blagojevich must sign off on restored budget cuts
* News quiz: What’s a fund sweep?
* Public opinion heard, but we’re not out of the woods
* SJ-R Opinion: Education key to responsible use of credit
* Illinois legislature overrides Blagojevich on hospital discounts
* In ethics bill, Hynes’ team spirit shines
- unclesam - Thursday, Sep 25, 08 @ 11:01 am:
“there’s nothing that would prevent the governor from adding spending for pet programs through an amendatory veto. That could force the Legislature back to Springfield to accept or override it.”
Just a quick note to all: the IL Constitution does not provide the Governor with the authority to add to spending bills — he can only eliminate/reduce lines in an appropriations bill.
Also, with the report from CBS 2 News - Chicago, he may rethink playing any games — as he may need additional friends in the legislature to head off any mention of the “I” word.
To steal a phrase: I’m just sayin’
- Phineas J. Whoopee - Thursday, Sep 25, 08 @ 11:04 am:
I guess I will come work for you because I know he is going to do something dumb that will have to be overwridden or corrected in some other way. Then again, you may have lots of workers because the dumb part is a given.
- Princess - Thursday, Sep 25, 08 @ 11:04 am:
Actually I’m afraid after the indictment story that’s breaking, what Rod will do next to terrorize state workers in an effort to redirect attention.
Without today’s news of maybe being indicted, I would have said that Rod will not just sign his name on the restoration of funding with a black pen and be done with it. No. I fear he’ll sit on it for 59 days, 23 hours and 58 minutes and then hand it back with lots of red ink cross outs and some “Do Right” additions.
- Irish - Thursday, Sep 25, 08 @ 11:10 am:
As I said before, Blago will cite the revenue report, claim he has to be fiscally responsible because he does not want the state to end up like wall street and say he has to use the funds in the sweep to cover the $200 million shortfall. Some of the funds he might not be able to sweep and he, the ever vigilant law abiding gov would not do anything illegal. He will write all this up in his amendatory veto and send it back.
The house will override the veto and try to put stronger language in that he has to use the funds as they stipulate. The senate will refuse to override unless the house passes the gov’s AV on ethics bill. Stalemate. They all go home.
They come back after Nov. 12 in a half hearted attempt to make progress. Some house democrats will be heard talking income tax increase. They all go home.
They come back next spring when there is more pressure, people wanting to get out to parks and historic sites, incidents of how cuts in substance abuse programs and human services affected real people will be cited. Income tax increase discussions will begin in earnest and an increase will be passed in time to restore everything in the next fiscal years budget.
- LPZOO - Thursday, Sep 25, 08 @ 11:10 am:
With all the corruption around Blago shouldn’t the legistlature figure out a way to keep his hands off the till?
All this “borrowing” is adding up big time.
Look at what the State has “mortgaged” already:
The $10 billion in debt refi that Hurtgen, Kjellander and Rezko put together…(A $400,000 finders fee making it way into a Rezko account the rest going to Kjellander for “doing nothing”)
Not to mention the curruption underneath those beautiful signs on every highway which remind us who was reponsible. By the way, why is it that the whole tollway (Oasis) deal with Rezko, Hurtgen, Knight E/A and all the rest never got investigated? Here you had a company Hurtgen was involved with getting the contract to do the engineering, another suspect company getting the contracting and Rezko’s restaurants going into them- how can people not connect the “IDOTS”.
When will Opreation Board Games land in Springfield and when will this mess of a Gov.(who no one respects) be on his way out?
One has to feel like justice delayed is justice denied here. The sooner Blago get’s his day in court the better of Illinois.
- Irish - Thursday, Sep 25, 08 @ 11:12 am:
With some left over to increase the Healthcare Plan.
- Little Egypt - Thursday, Sep 25, 08 @ 2:15 pm:
With all the neg publicity today about Blago, look for a thunderous 5:00 p.m. press release on Friday. He will announce something and it will be something no one will like.
- Irish - Thursday, Sep 25, 08 @ 2:49 pm:
Rich, I guess before I “applied” I should have found out what it paid. lol
- Captain America - Thursday, Sep 25, 08 @ 4:27 pm:
Everyone should read Eric Zorn’s colummn - “Hynes team spirit shines:”
Canary: Dan was incredible… he talked up the idea all over the state.
Fritchey: Hynes was the genesis of the pay-to- play ban… working on the issue through ultimate passage.
Schoenberg: Hynes made ethic reform part of the Comptroller’s job description.
Harmon: Dan is a workhorse, not a showhorse… care more about results than press releases.
Dan Hynes, the ultimate anti-Blagojevich, deserves a credit for doing a great job as an Illiois constitutional officer.
Capitol Fax bloggers should sit up and take notice. Dan Hynes deserves a promotion from the Illinois electorate. Soemtimes I feel like a voice in the wilderness when commenting about Dan’s sterling qualities in the Capital Fax blog. I urge everyone to read Zorn’s article.
Hynes may be the untimate cure for what ails the Illinois body politic; Quiet competence, a voice of reason, and an ethical beacon in a cesspool of arrogance, governmental dysfunction, and political corruption.
It takes more than a pretty face, a pleasant personality, and a fat campaign treasury to govern our State effectively and address serious problems with bipartisan solutions.
- Gregor - Thursday, Sep 25, 08 @ 9:49 pm:
A co-worker asked me what is that huge white tent going up just north of the capitol building.
“Cirque Du Rod” I told her. “He’s going to keep vindictive AV’s rolling out of his office like clowns out of a clown car.”