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Legislators to go into self-protection mode over special session funding

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Illinois

* Despite Senate President John Cullerton’s offer to call a regular session day and avoid per diem costs being charged to the taxpayers, Gov. Pat Quinn has so far refused to rescind his special session order.

Therefore, we will likely see more back-patting press releases like this one in the coming weeks…

KOTOWSKI TO REFUSE ANY PER DIEM FOR SPECIAL SESSION
Calls on Legislators to Forgo Per Diem and Get the Job Done

8/1/2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Senator Dan Kotowski (D- Park Ridge) announced today that he will refuse any per diem and mileage reimbursement for the special session on August 17 and called on his colleagues in the General Assembly to do the same.

“I will not take tax payer money to go to Springfield and solve a problem that politicians created through decades of mismanagement and inaction,” said Kotowski. “Legislators work for taxpayers, and if we couldn’t get the job done by May 31, then it’s our responsibility to pass pension reform on our own dime.That’s why I’m calling on every member of the General Assembly to do the right thing and not accept any taxpayer funded per diem for the special session.”

The projected per diem and mileage reimbursement cost for members of the General Assembly during the special session is $40,000 per day.

Kotowski is in a Tier One race, so this press release was definitely necessary.

* Meanwhile, an admission by the governor that he called the special session because of threats by jittery bond rating agencies, rather than out of abt belief that a deal was imminent, probably won’t calm any NY nerves…

The Democratic governor acknowledged that his call for lawmakers to return to Springfield was driven more by fear that the state’s credit rating could be shredded further, raising borrowing and construction costs, than by a belief that a deal was close at hand.

“We have to deal with the credit-rating agencies. They wear green eyeshades. The idea that we have plenty of time is not always the right way to look at it,” Quinn said late Monday after appearing on a special on Tribune Co.-owned CLTV about the state’s pension problem.

“Don’t be too skeptical here,” he cautioned a reporter. “I don’t think most people in politics are excited about this. That’s one reason to be there (in Springfield). We want to do the whole thing, and I think there are people who do want to do the whole thing and get it resolved once and for all.”

To do so will require a comprehensive deal involving both Democrats and Republicans that spreads any political fallout or blame. But recent examples of such a product involving a major issue out of politically polarized Springfield are few.

* Related and a partial roundup…

* Cross: Cost of underfunded pensions may be higher

* State Agriculture Director Outlines Plans For Centralia Animal Disease Lab

* Rescue group struggles to feed horses in drought

* Quinn says no ‘loopholes for mobsters’ on gambling expansion bill

* Report: Illinois Lottery manager short $100M on profit

* 900 turn out to learn more about Illiana Expressway

* How to further hurt business in Illinois: Expand the sales tax

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Aug 1, 12 @ 10:37 am

Comments

Our state has plenty of cash right? Not only to pay for special sessions on taxpayer money, but to pay for the legal fight with taxpayer money that surely will ensue from any legislation passed. Does the state have the money for that? As I stated in a blog yesterday, even if courts should support contested legislation, the money to fight it would already have been spent. Why are taxpayers not concerned about that?

Comment by geronimo Wednesday, Aug 1, 12 @ 10:54 am
Given his failure on Budgeting for Results which was authored by Sen. Kotowski, I don’t balme him (Kotowski) for not thinking he’s not earned per diem,let alone a paycheck!

Comment by redrum Wednesday, Aug 1, 12 @ 10:58 am
There is no avenue for a legislator to fogo a pay check for special session. What they have to do is accept the check and turn around and write a check back to the state … maybe someone should look and see who actually did that during all of the old Blago special sessions.

Comment by Spliff Wednesday, Aug 1, 12 @ 11:01 am
Is Sen. Kotowski really a Tier One? He’s sitting on a huge campaign fund, his district went for Obama in ‘08, Duckworth should carry his district, and his challenger has never held office.

Comment by reformer Wednesday, Aug 1, 12 @ 11:43 am
@reformer -

The Senate Republicans definition of Tier One is just this side of a snowball’s chance.

If you listen to them, they argue that every seat is “winnable,” even seats that Quinn carried in 2010.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Wednesday, Aug 1, 12 @ 12:26 pm
Overheard a political discussion on this topic today while having breakfast. “If those guys did their jobs in the first place there would be no need for a special session.”

Hard to argue with that one.

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Wednesday, Aug 1, 12 @ 4:17 pm
Wonder if some of this has to do with Moody’s 6.5 billion bond downgrading of O’Hare Airport.
With S&P and Fitch to follow on downgrading.
I mean the chicago civic committee commercial club are the ones that started pushing for the pension reform in the first place.

Comment by Apop Wednesday, Aug 1, 12 @ 7:03 pm