Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar » *** UPDATED x3 *** So far this evening…

Friday, May 7, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller

* 5:18 pm - In case you’ve been wondering, there will be an end of session party tonight even if they don’t finish the session. “I am not dealing with this again,” declared one person involved with the party’s planning.

If you missed it yesterday, the party is in the building housing the Pizza Machine and other businesses. You absolutely must have a Statehouse-type ID (staff, lobbyist, press, etc.) to get in. See you there.

*** UPDATE 1 - 6:40 pm *** Speaker Madigan has adjourned the House to the call of the chair. He said he understood that they still had much work to do, and he hoped he could have it accomplished in one or two days, but he didn’t say when that one or two days might actually occur.

The Senate is doing the same thing.

*** UPDATE 2 - 7:15 pm *** Leader Lang spoke to reporters shortly after the House adjourned. Here’s what he said…

*** UPDATE 3 - 7:40 pm *** President Cullerton answered questions after the Senate adjourned to the call of the chair. He says…

Sen. Brady also gave his thoughts about the budget process and today’s adjournment…

The AP story on today’s adjournment is up…

“Our business is not finished,” House Speaker Michael Madigan told lawmakers before adjournment. “When we are prepared to finish our business we will come back to Springfield for one or two days.”

The Chicago Democrat gave no indication of when that might happen. With lawmakers opposed to raising taxes, slashing spending or borrowing money to fill the massive budget hole, finding a solution may take time.

While Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton had aimed for a May 7 conclusion to the spring legislative session, that date has no special significance.

…Adding… And from Gatehouse…

Lawmakers could return at the end of the month, as May 31 is the deadline for bills to be approved with only a simple majority. After that, some Republican votes would be in play on any budget agreement.

Senators had approved three main pieces of a patchwork budget earlier in the day, but those were not called for votes in the House.

12 Comments

- dupage progressive - Friday, May 7, 10 @ 5:22 pm:
thanks Rich for answering the top question on everyone’s mind… can you say grumpy people drowning sorrows?

- Scooby - Friday, May 7, 10 @ 5:22 pm:
Let’s get to the important question, any idea if they’ll be wrapped up before the Hawks game starts at 8:30?

- Rich Miller - Friday, May 7, 10 @ 5:26 pm:
dupro, make that grumpy TIRED people… lol

- CircularFiringSquad - Friday, May 7, 10 @ 5:28 pm:
Those who plan adjournment must be nimble. THus the shear genius of those who planned the LaPaille Events during the dry, dry BlinkyJim years.
BTW has anyone actually seen Capt Fax today?

- joe - Friday, May 7, 10 @ 5:37 pm:
I remember last year’s session being pretty crappy towards the end and I didn’t see too many grumpy, sad people at the Pizza Machine.

I remember leaving when the sun was coming up and walking back to the statehouse and people were hanging out outside, still drinking.

- Roz - Friday, May 7, 10 @ 5:52 pm:
1994 says it All!!!

- downhereforyears - Friday, May 7, 10 @ 6:07 pm:
Remember the Thompson days. End of session meant THE MANSION WAS OPEN TO ALL. wHAT A GOVERNOR!

- Bill - Friday, May 7, 10 @ 6:08 pm:
Drinking, Joe? I find that very hard to believe. If I leave now I could just about make it but it is probably better if I stay here and hide behind my alter ego.

- wordslinger - Friday, May 7, 10 @ 7:22 pm:
Big Jim put on a nice spread. I remember in ‘86 walking over from the Dome at about 2 a.m. with a crowd that included state Rep. Hastert just after he had lined up the party votes to assume the seat of incapacitated Congressman Grotberg. Good food, plenty of booze and some bad singing around the piano in the mansion.

- Responsa - Friday, May 7, 10 @ 8:25 pm:
Will there be entrtainment at the end-of-session party this evening? Will Nero be there with his fiddle?

- 47th Ward - Friday, May 7, 10 @ 9:10 pm:
Great coverage as always Rich. Thanks. You save many of us the trip to Springfield, and I am very grateful to you for that.

I hope Barton and Dan are having a blast. What a great (if unfortunate policy/politics wise)experience.

Rich get some rest, looks like you’ll be working tomorrow. Sebd the interns to get some video from the party tonight so the rest of us can feel like we were there too, just like it felt we were on the rail all day today.

Great work from commenters too today. A nice job all around I think.

- Gregor - Friday, May 7, 10 @ 9:31 pm:
What is there to party about? Between the unfinished budget and the star bonds debacle, I think of the session this way:

If the state budget was a car, these guys have driven it out of gas, gotten lost, dumped it in a ditch, pulled the tires, battery and radio, set the engine on fire and left stains on the seats.

And it’s our car they’ve borrowed.

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