* 5:37 pm - The House plans to vote tonight on two of the guv’s amendatory vetoes. Rep Chuck Jefferson has reversed course and will move to accept Blagojevich’s AV of a health insurance to allow people to stay on their parents’ insurance until they’re 29.
The other AV is of a TIF bill to exempt disabled vets from paying property taxes. That’s a GOP bill and the HGOP is caucusing at the moment.
The House is also planning on running a “mini capital bill” tonight.
* 6:08 pm - The House Republican sponsor of the second, vets-related AV will move to accept the governor’s amendatory veto.
* 6:15 pm - The Senate has adjourned, so if the House votes to accept these amendatory vetoes, the Senate won’t be around to vote on them. They’re all going home.
* 2:25 -Huge turnout. Speaker and Lisa Madigan are no-shows after all. Secretary of State White and Comptroller Hynrs are also absent.
Nothing but cheering so far but there are lots of AFSCME fills are here.
• 2:50 pm - A few boos when Senate Prez Jones was introduced but the crowd is still mostly well behaved if a bit bored and talkative. Several have already left.
• 3:00 pm - Guv’s speech drowned out by AFSCME members shouting “don’t cut healthcare.”. Blagojevich re protesters: “Theyre lucky to have a job.” Union members walked out and guv is continuing his speech.
Not sure why AFSCME walked out because they had stepped all over the guv’s speech The governor did extend an olive branch after they left, saying they’re on the same side.
* 10:20 am - Comptroller Dan Hynes received a standing ovation at the Democratic county chairman’s event today when he said that a capital plan is going nowhere and substance abuse funding is being slashed not because of some outside force, but because of a personality clash.
Also, Attorney General Lisa Madigan and Secretary of State Jesse White both received standing O’s when they were introduced.
I ran into the new chairman of the organization last night, and he said he wanted to make sure today’s event, which features New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson as they keynote speaker, runs smoothly and without controversy.
House Speaker Michael Madigan was introduced earlier, and the reception was a bit tepid. But there was no booing. Same for Senate President Jones, but Gov. Blagojevich received a rousing standing ovation.
* 10:41 am - Gov. Blagojevich: “I’m glad that the Speaker is here, and I’m interested to see if we can work together to get things done for people.”
More Blagojevich: “I didn’t become a Democrat because some Chicago boss knocked on my door and offered me a job.”
Um, huh? He married his alderman’s daughter, for crying out loud.
* 10:48 am - I told you about this earlier today, and I tipped off subscribers about this possibility last week, but here’s more from the Tribbies…
House Speaker Michael Madigan drew applause at Wednesday morning’s Democratic county chairmen’s brunch when he said “good progress” had been made among his members exploring the lease of the Illinois Lottery to fund a new statewide construction program.
Madigan has blocked Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s proposed $25 billion public works program largely due to a lack of trust of the governor among House Democrats. But the powerful Madigan, who also chairs the state Democratic Party, said House Democrats have been meeting for the past two days to discuss a lottery lease—the basis for funding Blagojevich’s plan.
“Today, the prospects look very, very good,” Madigan said to applause, largely from representatives of labor organizations who back the construction bill. Madigan said “good progress” has been made in reviewing the details of a lottery lease but also said work remains in developing an agreement.
Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago), who has joined with Blagojevich in repeatedly attacking Madigan and House Democrats for stalling the public works measure, said he was heartened by the speaker’s comments.
“The good news today is we’re going to move a capital bill forward,” Jones said.
* 11:17 am - An e-mail from the Better Government Association arrived just in time for Governor’s Day…
The hearing for oral arguments in the BGA’s Freedom of Information lawsuit against the Governor to obtain copies of federal grand jury subpoenas was just scheduled by the 4th District Appellate Court. The hearing will take place on September 16th at 10:00 a.m. at the U of I law school in Urbana.
Apparently the 4th District hears a handful of cases at the law school each year and the BGA’s case is one of this year’s selections.
The BGA won at trial and the governor is appealing.
* 12:07 pm - The governor just spoke to reporters and brushed off repeated attempts by the gathered scribes to get him to say something negative about Speaker Madigan. Blagojevich instead said that since it looks like things are starting to get close on the capital bill that he would rather not go into that sort of attack.
Interesting.
I wonder if his “volunteers” at the State Fair will be following the governor’s lead. Stay tuned.
* The governor was also asked about Comptroller Hynes’ speech. Hynes said that this was “the best of times and the worst of times” for Democrats. “Best,” meaning Obama, “worst,” meaning Illinois.
The guv said he had read a lot of Charles Dickens and claimed that if the author of A Tale of Two Cities was alive today he’d love the All Kids program.
The man knows how to stay on-message when he wants to.
A legislative review panel unanimously rejected Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s idea to move about 140 state jobs from Springfield to Harrisburg, three hours apart. But the vote isn’t binding, and the governor maintains that he intends to move the jobs as an economic boost to the southern Illinois town.
But the bipartisan, legislative Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability’s six-hour hearing last month and the “pounds of evidence” generated might not go to waste, says Sen. Jeff Schoenberg, an Evanston Democrat chairing the commission and author of the law setting a review process for closing state facilities. The legal and economic data provided as a result of this process could be used as evidence in court.
Legal challenges could come from the state legislators representing the Springfield area, as well as the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31 or the local Teamsters union representing the affected employees in the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Division of Public Safety. […]
Sen. Bill Brady, a Bloomington Republican on the commission, said the process has highlighted questions about the fiscal merit, the political motivations and the human impact on the employees.
The administration, however, is looking at other evidence to the contrary, suggesting the move will save money and help out an economically depressed area. Here’s the governor’s statement, provided by e-mail this afternoon: “We will be moving forward with the geographic relocation of IDOT’s Division of Traffic Safety to Harrisburg, as previously mentioned. We’ll be working with the employees who do not choose to relocate, within the terms of their contracts, to find positions for them in Springfield. We will follow all appropriate timelines and guidelines as we move forward.”
* The question: Where do you stand on this concept of moving state jobs out of Springfield to economically depressed areas of the state? Please explain fully. No drive-bys. And try not to focus solely on Gov. Blagojevich. Thanks.
* The AP has a pretty good summary of what’s going on in Springfield this week, but they also tread lightly, particularly on the last point…
Q: What do black lawmakers say about the [special session on education]?
A: That Blagojevich called it, so it’s his responsibility to present an agenda. […]
Q: Hasn’t Blagojevich ordered special sessions before?
A: Yes. This week’s sessions will be the 23rd and 24th so far in the current two-year legislative cycle. […]
Q: Why does Blagojevich keep calling special sessions if nothing ever happens?
A: A governor only has so many ways to exert pressure on legislators. With the state budget deep in the red, there’s little money for pork projects in the districts of cooperative lawmakers. With federal investigators probing his administration, he can’t award jobs to political allies.
Two things Blagojevich can do are use his veto power to amend legislation - which he’s doing increasingly often - and order special sessions. Even if lawmakers do nothing, he can point to their inaction as evidence that they’re obstructionists.
* Erickson asks a question that is on a whole lot of minds this week…
The question of the day for many state lawmakers Tuesday was: Why are we here?
Called into special session by Gov. Rod Blagojevich, members of the House and Senate were directed to do something about the state’s school funding formula, which allows wide disparities in funding levels among the state’s 800-plus school districts.
But nearly everyone agreed the topic simply cannot be handled in a one-day, hours long session.
“It’s absurd,” said state Rep. Bill Mitchell, R-Forsyth. “We know we can’t accomplish anything.”
* And Rev. Sen. James Meeks blasted away with both barrels…
In the Senate, Democratic Sen. James Meeks of Chicago sounded a similar theme, accusing Blagojevich of “calling us down here for absolutely no reason at all.”
“Everybody at home thinks that we’re here dealing with some educational matters, when in actuality we’re not,” said Meeks.
“When the governor calls a special session, the governor is supposed to have an agenda. One, two, three, what we’re supposed to do,” Meeks said. “He calls a special session on education without a plan, any ideas on education, and I just think it’s appalling.”
Blagojevich spokesman Brian Williamsen responded that the governor’s previous proposals to the legislature have been rejected.
‘’He’s sending the same one he sent in 2006 by making a promise and not keeping it — That this is not his priority,'’ said Meeks, a leading critic of the school-funding system.
The governor said he was not happy with lawmakers’ actions Tuesday.
‘’I'm disappointed that after lawmakers asked for a Special Session to fund education, the House called it quits after just a half-hour,'’ Blagojevich said. ‘’There are a number of solutions and proposals that I have introduced that could have been discussed, but instead, some members used their time to point fingers and offer excuses.'’
Blagojevich spokesman Brian Williamsen said in an e-mail that Meeks had requested the special session.
[Sen. James Meeks (D-Chicago) called it “appalling” and “disappointing” that Blagojevich failed to present an education reform plan Tuesday. The senator, pastor of a large South Side church, has called for a boycott by Chicago Public Schools students on Sept. 2—their first day of school—saying they should try to enroll in the wealthy north suburban New Trier Township High School District. The governor instead headed in late afternoon to the Illinois State Fair cattle barns for the annual grand champion auction—a decision that angered lawmakers.
“He did not call a special session to deal with cows,” Meeks said. “He called a special session to deal with kids.”
* And the Daily Herald looks at what the legislative per diem buys at the Illinois State Fair…
What $129 buys you at the Illinois State Fair:
Corn dogs:
43 small ($3)
25 large ($5)
Lemon shake-ups:
43 small ($3)
25 large ($5)
Vinegar fries:
43 small ($3)
32 medium ($4)
21 large ($6)
Deep-fried Snickers:
36 ($3.50)
Soft-serve ice cream:
28 ($4.50)
*Editor’s note: Recommend dipping deep-fried Snickers into soft-serve ice cream!
* Related…
* Kass: This week, Gov. Rod “The Unreformer” Blagojevich revealed himself to be something of a madman, perhaps even a dangerous madman.
* State records show that Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s campaign coffers have raked in more than $314,000 in donations from companies and individuals doing business with the state over the last six months — a practice that many critics contend creates at least an apparent conflict of interest.
* You already know this from yesterday, but check out how harsh the Tribune’s coverage is today…
The Illinois Senate rejected a 7.5 percent pay increase Tuesday in the face of withering criticism from voters who feared lawmakers would sneak the raises through after they were safely re-elected in November.
But don’t cry too hard for state lawmakers—they just got a 3.8 percent cost-of-living adjustment July 1. The mere possibility that they could so quickly raise their own pay again served as a focal point for citizen outrage.
Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago) had angled for more money this spring, unabashedly declaring: “I need a pay raise. I need a pay raise.” But with lawmakers unexpectedly in town this week, Jones changed his mind and allowed the vote.
Illinois Senate President Emil Jones gained a bit of infamy in May when he told reporters, “I need a pay raise. I need a pay raise.”
He didn’t get one. He didn’t get one.
Oof.
* The Sun-Times ran an AP story, but headlined it: “No raise for Emil“…
Even after the 47-0 vote against the raises, state officials still get a 3.8 percent cost-of-living increase.
Senate President Emil Jones, (D-Chicago) voted ‘’present'’ on the raise and called opponents ‘’hypocrites'’ for objecting to the money while accepting a 3.8 percent cost-of-living increase included in this year’s budget.
* Not unexpected, but hadn’t heard about the Speaker Madigan part. Lisa Madigan didn’t attend last year’s festivities, either…
Sneed is told neither House Speaker Mike Madigan nor his daughter, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan — who is eyeing a gubernatorial bid — has any interest being on stage with Governor Blago todayduring Governor’s Day at the Illinois State Fair.
Thoughts?
*** UPDATE - 9:39 am *** I just talked to Speaker Madigan’s spokesman, who pointed out that Madigan will share the stage with the governor at the county chairmen’s event this morning and at the state party convention at 11 o’clock. The spokesman said that Madigan then needs to go back to the Statehouse to prepare for the 5 pm special session, so he will be unable to attend the Governor’s Day festivities at the fairgrounds.
Convenient.
Also, the spokesman stressed that he believed the news of the day was that the House was making significant progress on refashioning the Lottery lease bill, which will fund the capital plan. He did say, however, that there wouldn’t be a vote on the plan today.
*** UPDATE - 9:44 am *** OK, well, the Speaker’s spokesman just called back to say that Madigan told a Chicago reporter he plans to be at the State Fair’s Governor’s Day event today.
“I’ve got good customers and good friends that happen to be Democrats. Not everybody I know is a Republican. They’re all enthused about their candidate or whatever, and they’re doing a big fundraising effort. I’d like to be able to respond positively to my friends or customers,” he said.
This is a revolving door system that special interests are happy to exploit - last year, they paid nearly $3 billion to hire Washington influence peddlers. That’s $17 million for every day Congress was in session.
* 3:50 pm - The House has adjourned until tomorrow citing the lack of any bills to debate.
The Senate Dems and Repubs are caucusing until 4:15.
* 5:05 pm - The Senate Rules Committee just popped the pay raise resolution onto the floor. Sen. Hendon claimed the House’s inaction on capital and school funding meant that this was not a good time for raises.
So, it appears that the pay raises may be dead. A vote is expected in minutes.
One of the House Democrats’ point people on education, Rep. Mike Smith of Canton, announced that he’ll host a series of public hearings to consider a proposal to abolish property taxes for school funding by 2010. It’s been floated by Sen. James Meeks, a Chicago Democrat who previously threatened to run against Blagojevich for governor in the absence of education funding reforms. Meeks didn’t run, but he also didn’t get what he wanted.
* The question: Do you favor allowing the property tax for schools to “sunset” in 2010 to force the General Assembly to come up with another funding alternative?
Note: This is not necessarily about abolishing the property tax for schools. They may renew it, at least partially. This is about the sunsetting tactic. Will it work? Should it be tried? Explain.
Senate President Emil Jones has had a change of heart and will allow an up-or-down vote on legislative pay raises this week.
Jones, a Chicago Democrat, told Sen. Susan Garrett, D-Lake Forest, Friday that he will give the chamber a chance to accept or reject the raises when senators meet today and Wednesday in special sessions called by Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
“He made a commitment to call the pay raise for an up-or-down vote,” Garrett said Monday. “I take him at his word on that.”
The commitment was for an up or down vote, but not specifically on the resolution to reject the pay raises. Jones’ people floated alternative ideas back in May. Plus, there’s a lot of backroom maneuvering going on right now. Stay tuned.
Therising number of editorials and public awareness of this issue means any further games could backfire in a big way. So, maybe they will vote to reject the raises, but maybe not. Attendance won’t be high in the Senate this week, so one never knows.
But if they do vote to reject the raises, then Comptroller Dan Hynes is off the hook. Hynes has refused to say yet whether the pay raises kick in this week. The Senate Democrats claim that the pay raises won’t take effect this week because special session days don’t impact the 30-day deadline that the chamber has to reject the raises.
* I told you yesterday that Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn was protesting outside the governor’s City Club speech demanding that the Senate reject the pay raises.
Outside of the banquet hall where Jones and Blagojevich appeared in Chicago, Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn, a Democrat who opposes the pay raises, warned that the hikes could take effect this week, which Jones branded as incorrect and “stupid.”
As Jones entered the restaurant, he looked at the well-known Quinn and said, “What’s your name?”
* Related…
* Quinn leads pay raise picket at gov’s speech - Jones indicates he may be willing to allow vote on increase
* This is a bit presumptuous of him, don’t you think?
Calling Jones one of his most loyal friends, Blagojevich added, “Emil and I are homeboys, man. … There are times I consider myself the first African-American governor of Illinois.”
Bill Clinton never actually called himself the first black president. That was left to others. For Blagojevich to say that really shows you something about him.
* And then there’s this Blagojevich quote from yesterday…
“I give me high marks for being willing to compromise.”
Except that when the does compromise nobody can accept his word.
The governor continued with this interpretation of how the House Democrats respond to his compromising attitude…
“If I say it’s day outside, they’ll tell me it’s night. If I say it’s Friday, they’ll say it’s Monday,” he said.
* Addicts are being kicked into the street, hospitals and nursing homes will have to wait months to be reimbursed for their services, the governor claims that the state’s budget is $2 billion out of whack.
Yet, there he was playing the big shot at the Kerry Wood Strike Zone fund-raiser last week…
The biggest draw at the Kerry Wood Strike Zone fund-raiser Wednesday night wasn’t one of the star athletes — it was Mark Cuban.
Fans swarmed outside 10Pin Bowling Lounge, 330 N. State, and when Cuban stepped outside they rushed him for autographs. “I can’t really say anything,” he told reporters when asked about his bid to buy the Chicago Cubs. “I just love Chicago.” […]
Gov. Blagojevich came with his 12-year-old daughter Amy, a major fan who likes to call pitches when she watches games with her dad. […]
The party raised about $360,000, which is being matched in a state grant by the governor, to benefit the Organic Food Project. The money will go to supply healthy lunches to students at Louisa May Alcott Elementary School, 2625 N. Orchard, for a year.
The governor just pulled that announcement out of his hat, according to people I know who were there. It was a total surprise.
The charity is a good one. No disputing that. But how about pulling some cash out of the hat for programs that have already been slashed?
A private burial will be held this week. A memorial Mass will be said at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Queen of Martyrs Catholic Church at 103rd Street and Central Park Avenue. For an hour before the Mass, there will be a visitation with family members.
Following on the heels of a Supreme Court decision that held that a blanket ban on handguns violated 2nd Amendment rights, Evanston’s City Council voted 7-1 Monday night to amend the North Shore suburb’s weapons ordinance to conform to the landmark court ruling.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Weisman, who heads Projects Safe Neighborhoods program in Chicago, said the $2 million pledge will go a long way in building on an already successful program.
