* OK, after some confusion yesterday, there will be both a “special” session on Monday and a “regular” session. The regular session means that bills beyond the override of governor Blagojevich’s amendatory veto of the ethics bill can be considered. And that means that other veto override motions will likely have to be dealt with and that there will be huge pressure to stop the pending closures of state parks and historic sites. This might take a couple of days…

Cindy Davidsmeyer said that other issues may be on the table as well. “When you convene a regular session day, a variety of issues can be dealt with,” she said.

More on that…

The distinction between regular and special sessions could be important.

Lawmakers can take up only what the governor puts on their agenda in a special session, which this time will be ethics reform. By calling a regular session, the Senate can — and will face pressure to — consider other important issues: dealing with the governor’s vetoes on several bills, reversing deep budget cuts and approving a lease of the state lottery to fund public works projects.

* I’m not sure whether the first part of this sentence is completely true…

In a separate move that left many lawmakers shaking their heads, Blagojevich also issued a call Thursday for a special session to start at 1 p.m. Monday.

They are certainly shaking their heads, but it’s doubtful that this was, indeed, a “separate move” by a governor acting alone…

Blagojevich spokeswoman Kelley Quinn said the governor and Jones had spoken and that the governor was the only one with authority to call both chambers back on the ethics issue.

* And it may not end on Monday or Tuesday…

Blagojevich spokesman Lucio Guerrero suggested the pay-to-play prohibition is yesterday’s news and challenged lawmakers to do more.

“This whole pay-to-play thing, it’s all ready been done. What we’re hoping is the General Assembly does more than just agree with the governor,” he said.

And if they don’t, he warned they might grow accustomed to seeing the Capitol in the coming weeks.

“The governor’s willing to call special sessions as long as it takes,” Guerrero said.

The ethics bill override would restore a simple ban on most state contractors giving money to the governor’s campaign fund. The governor claims his latest executive order will cover that problem, but the EO is so broad that it’s almost undoubtedly illegal.

But, the governor threatened special sessions earlier this summer on education and never followed through, so Guerrero’s threat may be empty.

* The governor has his own ethics bill, which is a compilation of his original amendatory veto language, but good government groups oppose it…

“There is a great deal of consensus that it is an overbroad piece of legislation.” [ said Cindi Canary, director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform.]

And ethics proponents in the General Assembly say the language is nowhere near complete…

“It’s not ready for prime time,” said state Sen. Don Harmon, an Oak Park Democrat and sponsor of the initial ethics deal. Harmon said he’ll persist with an override of the governor’s changes.

The governor’s people have said the same thing in recent days.

* The decision to call the GA back to town will impact several campaigns, including Halvorson’s..

Locally, Jones’ refusal to go back into session also became an issue in the 11th District Congressional race of Democrat Debbie Halvorson, the Senate Majority Leader who has been taking flack from her Republican opponent Marty Ozinga for an apparent lack of leadership.

“I am extremely pleased the Senate will return to special session to override the governor’s veto of the ban on pay-to-play in Illinois,” Halvorson said in a statement. “I’m glad Sen. Jones finally decided to respect the wishes of the members of his caucus and the people of Illinois.

* Related…

* Barack calls, ethics vote a go

* Tribune editorial: The ethics show returns

* Obama phone call leads to Jones reversal on ethics bill

* Ill. Senators To Vote On Disputed Ethics Bill

* Senate to Reconvene: Emil Jones

* Hope not lost for Dana-Thomas

* Question and answer time with the gov’s spokesman

* Parks, prison news not good enough