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Question of the day

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Illinois

It’s possible that a serious Statehouse showdown is on the horizon. The governor has claimed that he isn’t afraid to call legislators back into special session if they don’t approve a budget that he can live with, and as I’ve already told you, no agreement is in sight at the moment.

The governor has the power to use the state police at his discretion to require attendance at such special sessions, and one of the big jokes around the taverns is where legislators might flee outside the state police’s jurisdiction in case they don’t want to show up.

I’m partial to either St. Louis or Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Both would provide plenty of entertainment opportunities and I could also tow my new boat to either locale and host receptions during any potential exile.

Today’s question: Where should legislators go to avoid the state coppers? You don’t have to choose either one of my preferences. Explain the benefits and potential drawbacks (if any) of your choice.

Of course, this entire post is (mostly) tongue in cheek. But let’s have a little fun anyway.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 9:35 am

Comments

The Governor’s Mansion - Rod will never look there.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 9:42 am
Springfield - Blagojevich can’t find it.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 9:42 am
Paducah - ask Mel Reynolds why.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 9:49 am
Each has drawn the Monopoly game card: “Go to hell, go straight to hell. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200.

As they look for guidance from their lobbyist pals and their special interest groups, trying to balance not the true worth of the bill but rather the reelection contributions it will engender, everybody suffers.

Illinois is the laughingstock of the country. Marvelous what wonders one can produce with a veto proof majority.

Emil — great job with the Chicago State gambling subsidy, makes up for the protective skein you spread around COMED and AMEREN.

Mike — if you didn’t play such sleight of hand with the true revenue increases expected this year, we might be halfway home. Old habits die hard. Have to keep the Paul Powell memorial slush fund at the ready.

Blago — you are looking like a thin short Mussolini instead of a governor.

Tom Cross — you keep advertising that you have a balanced budget without tax increases. It might be worth the paper it was written on — if it were written on paper.

Frank Watson — you’ve gor to learn that being the head of the loyal opposition means being in opposition first.

As a politician is supposed to have remarked — every man has his price. Mine is lower than most.

Comment by Truthful James Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 9:50 am
Vegas - Invite the Cable folks as a way to say thanks.

Madigan could hide in Chatham. Police would never think to look there.

Comment by I love this time of year.... Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 9:51 am
Go fishing with Jack Franks and company, not sure where he goes but there under his leadership something might actually get accomplished.

Comment by Get serious Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 9:54 am
The boat idea sounds great. Actually, let’s get every member and lobbyist with a boat, load them up, and just cruise up and down the Mississippi on the Missouri and Iowa side. The Ozarks and Kentucky Lake, Lake Barclay, and Land Between the Lakes would also be nice.

Also, Rich do you think the SOS would allow a cook out on the capitol lawn or between the Capitol and the Stratton on some of these summer session days?

Comment by anon Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 9:54 am
Lake of the Ozarks

Comment by Matt Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 9:57 am
St. Louis. The legislature should convene at Crown Candy. It’s close to the river and they could enjoy cool refreshing malts while warding off the heat (of both the cops and the summer). Also Twangfest is in St. Louis next weekend, so they’d get to hear good music whilst on the lam.

Comment by Boone Logan Square Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 9:58 am
Current River in SE Missouri. Canoing and camping is pretty good this time of the year particularly after the rains. Even Keystone tastes good while paddling. Just picture MJM, Emil, and Watson around the campfire, making smores,………

Comment by zatoichi Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 9:58 am
Iowa side of the quad cities. They can gamble, be close to home, and see how a state can be run!

Comment by Pat Collins Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 9:59 am
St. Louis

Free drinks for me.

Comment by ArchPundit Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 9:59 am
Indiana, that way they double their tourism this year.

Comment by He makes Ryan look like a saint Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 10:08 am
iowa.

Comment by Fire Ron Guenther Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 10:12 am
I would suggest they all just resign and then they could go where ever they want without a worry of arrest. They haven’t done anything anyway. The vast majority of them are losers and could be arrested for a lot more, the truth be known, than not showing up because another loser, the governor, wants them in Springfield. The whole thing is a BIG mess.

Comment by why not Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 10:14 am
the great uniter Barack is not going to come
back and solve the crisis before they have to find hiding places?

Comment by amy Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 10:18 am
Oh please please please raise the taxes, so the Republicans can re-gain the Houses.

Comment by The Conservative Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 10:23 am
The Bahamas. They can go to visit all their “unofficial” campaign contributions in the banks there.

Comment by PalosParkBob Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 10:29 am
I did not know that we had legislators in this state; I thought that only the state of Chicago had legislators. Too bad that they and the governor cannot be found in Cook county jail.

Comment by i d Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 10:30 am
Hey Rich:
Glad to see the boat finally came in. Did u pay sales tax on it?

Comment by Concerned Citizen Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 10:31 am
I’m not aware of any provision of law or the Constitution that gives the Governor the power to arrest Legislators and force them to attend any session, special or not. They can choose to attend, or just stay home. What is your authority for the statement that he can use the State Police to arrest them?

Comment by Legaleagle Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 10:32 am
Anywhere outside of the City of Chicago - the Governor doesn’t realize that Illinois continues beyond the the city limits.

Comment by Belle of the Ball Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 10:33 am
Send them to Michigan City Indiana, so they can lose some of their per diem at an out of state casino. It might show them the basic concept of putting a boat in the south ‘burbs and a land-based one in Chicago.

Comment by Guy Montag Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 10:36 am
Legaleagle, the power has never been used, but it’s there. From Majority Leader Barb Currie in a 2004 floor debate…

===”As you know, the Governor also has the authority to compel the presence of any one of us at a special session and that… that power has not, to date, been exercised.”

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 10:41 am
Chicago’s Ravenswood Manor neighborhood pubs, While Blago makes one of his rare appearences in Springfield.
He wouldn’t think to check back home.

Comment by Bring it on! Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 10:51 am
Come down to the South and visit all your old jobs

Comment by VERY ANONYMOUS Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 11:03 am
Oxford, Wisconsin

Comment by FED-up Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 11:15 am
LOL

We may have a winner.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 11:16 am
I propose a legislative exchange program with Texas.

Comment by the Other Anonymous Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 11:30 am
Aren’t we embarking on junket season anyways?

Comment by Jake from Elwood Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 11:52 am
Benld

It was a hiding place of Al Capone and Co. during Prohibition. Needless to say, the mobsters were never caught.

Comment by Team Sleep Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 12:01 pm
Perhaps Indiana. Somewhere like Gary.

Comment by Levois Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 12:12 pm
Keno

Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 12:17 pm
How about a family-friendly Carribbean “leadership” cruise?

Comment by Overtime Prediction Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 12:28 pm
Gary

Comment by OneMan Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 12:38 pm
Party Cove at Lake of the Ozarks

Comment by Lurker Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 12:57 pm
Any downtown SPI bar that does not have ‘bucket’ night.

Comment by GettingJonesed Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 1:02 pm
Maybe dick mell can take blago on a one way trip to a landfill

Comment by fed up Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 1:14 pm
They should just go to Ardmore, Oklahoma. They have a nice setup for exiled legislators thanks to the Texas Democratic Party.

Comment by texinthecity Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 1:21 pm
They could go to the Federal Courthouse or Fitzgerald’s office. Blago wouldn’t dare go near there.

Comment by A Citizen Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 1:21 pm
The Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, just across the state line from Chicago.

Comment by fedup dem Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 1:24 pm
Rich: No offense but the question was, what law or constitutional provision gives the Governor the right to force attendance by members of the GA? Even though she is very empirical, a floor statement by Rep Currie is not sufficient basis.

Comment by one of the 35 Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 1:40 pm
- zatoichi - Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 9:58 am:

“Current River in SE Missouri. Canoing and camping is pretty good this time of the year particularly after the rains. Even Keystone tastes good while paddling. Just picture MJM, Emil, and Watson around the campfire, making smores,………”

I’m hearing Ned Beatty sqealing in my imagination at that… so it’s not unlike how we do Session NOW…

Comment by Shock the Monkey Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 1:47 pm
Perhaps at the special session they could come up with legislation to compel the governor to participate in good faith in the budget process from the beginning to accomplishment. He could always TIVO the soaps and watch them after the Peoples’ Business has been completed. I can see the State Trooper with the hairbrush chasing him down the street coming to take him away, ha ha!

Comment by A Citizen Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 1:48 pm
Special session will convene at the State Fair upon conclusion of the legislator auction (multiple bids considered.)

Comment by Truthful James Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 1:54 pm
I agree, after scouring the constitution and statutes, I can’t find anything that gives the Gov the power to have members forcibly transported to a special session.

Would this section of the IL Constitution protect members who decide to leave the state rather than attend a special session?

SECTION 12. LEGISLATIVE IMMUNITY
Except in cases of treason, felony or breach of peace, a member shall be privileged from arrest going to, during, and returning from sessions of the General Assembly. A member
shall not be held to answer before any other tribunal for any speech or debate, written or oral, in either house. These immunities shall apply to committee and legislative commission proceedings.
(Source: Illinois Constitution.)

Comment by Lurker Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 2:43 pm
Elmwood Park. The feds took a year to find “The Clown” hiding out there.

Comment by phocion Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 3:29 pm
I always thought it was the duty of the SOS police force to go round them up.

Comment by Shelbyville Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 4:01 pm
Think big folks!
MAUI
ARUBA
CAYMAN ISLANDS
They’ve already stolen the $$. Put is to good use

Comment by BIG R.PH. Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 4:37 pm
Rezko’s backyard barbeque.

Comment by Poolside @ Hotel Ibiza Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 4:45 pm
What’s to stop the House from taking roll and then adjourning as they did last year?

Lake Geneva and Green Lake are the two of the most beautiful lakes in Wisconsin. Cool, clear, clean spring fed lakes. Can’t go wrong there. Plus there is cheap beer and plenty of GOOD fish fries to chow down on.

Comment by Papa Legba Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 5:40 pm
Devil’s Island, off the coast of Europe. All that’s there is French prison, I think. And the name is so appropo.

Comment by Disgusted Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 5:59 pm
Disgusted - Devil’s Island is off the coast of French Guiana, South America, not Europe. Yes it is/was a French prison made infamous in the book titled “Papilion” which is about a 1945 prison escape. It was also a movie in 1973.

It is likely what is going on in Springfield, it will feel like we are being held on Devil’s Island.

Comment by Huh? Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 6:35 pm
They should all hide at the Governors mansion…he won’t find them until the next election.

Comment by state worker Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 6:41 pm
If you want to avoid a State Trooper just drive on any road other than an interstate and wear your seat belt. They are too darn dumb to go or do anything else anymore!

Comment by silver lining Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 7:09 pm
Area 51 in New Mexico. You wouldn’t be able to tell our cold-hearted Governor from the frozen ‘visitors’ kept there.

Comment by Jechislo Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 7:31 pm
Anywhere in the Stratton Building - maybe one of the spots especially close to all the asbestos.

Comment by In the Sticks Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 9:21 pm
Dollywood!

Comment by Bridget Dooley Tuesday, May 29, 07 @ 9:30 pm
“All of this has happened before. All of this will happen again.”

So probably Costa Rica. Or St. Louis. Could be St. Louis.

Comment by Twelve Wednesday, May 30, 07 @ 1:35 am
Send them to hide out up in Chicago in Crook County. The state police have been playing “Whack a Mole” up there for so long that they are overwhelmed. They will readily blend in with the rest of the sought after moles and they will be safe.

Comment by Anon Wednesday, May 30, 07 @ 6:36 am
Guantanamo Bay for their complete ignominious failure to effectively discharge their duties to the State of Illinois and its citizens.

Recommmned waterboarding to facilitate legislative leadership’s recollection of the old adage that politics is the art of compromise.

Kidnap Balgo and shave his head instead of burning him in effigy.

Comment by Captain America Wednesday, May 30, 07 @ 6:38 am
Under both State and Illinois constitutional caselaw, a person may be arrested only upon probable cause to believe that he or she has committed a crime. And only a judge can issue an arrest warrant.
The Governor cannot issue an arrest warrant. There would be the mother of all lawsuits should he try to arrest an elected Legislator for choosing not to attend a special session. Rep. Currie knows not whereof she speaks. It’s all a bluff!

Comment by Legaleagle Wednesday, May 30, 07 @ 5:11 pm