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One-two punch thrown by Chicago papers * Updated x1 *

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Illinois

* “Governor Irrelevant” seems to be sticking. From the Sun-Times…

On Wednesday, Gov. Blagojevich proclaimed that any state budget sent to him that didn’t meet his approval would be “dead on arrival.” As threats go, that one was as empty as the House during one of the governor’s special sessions.

If lawmakers do send him a budget over his protests, it means Democrats and Republicans alike have ignored him and brokered a deal among themselves. It means they have mustered a three-fifths majority. It means a gubernatorial veto is not a death sentence but simply a minor, easily cured boo-boo.

Blagojevich doesn’t like to be irrelevant, of course, even though no one is to blame but himself. So he’s also threatening to shut the government down if he’s sent “any budget that is constructed to appear balanced but is, in fact, unbalanced and, therefore, unconstitutional.” […]

We’ve got news for you, governor. Fight all you want for your pet projects, drag things out for as long as you can, but if the Legislature passes a budget with a veto-proof majority, the debate is pretty much over, and you’ve lost.

* Apparently, both papers want him to remain irrelevant. The Tribune says so specifically, running an editorial today with the headline: “Stick to ‘irrelevant,’ Governor”…

Option three, Hynes observes, is for the governor to order a shutdown of the state agencies under his control — which is most of them. That sort of exercise in chest-pounding would let a governor proclaim his heroism (”I’m Gov. Robin Hood, feared by the bad, loved by the good!”) in demanding a budget rewrite that is Just So.

Maybe Hynes is over-reading Blagojevich’s threat. Maybe the governor doesn’t entertain goofy notions of closing state offices (ooh, the theatrics …) or pulling Illinois Gaming Board agents off the boats they monitor (wowzer, imagine the public hubbub if the casinos close — which they’d have to do, at a loss of $2 million-plus in state and local tax revenues each day!).

We hope Hynes is mistaken. Because every effort the governor has made to demonize his opponents this year — some, such as employers and legislators who questioned his priorities didn’t even know they were headed for his enemies list — has flopped. Illinois citizens, like their lawmakers, aren’t drinking his Kool-Aid.

The individual now taking public scorn for the budget impasse, and the individual who’ll wear the jacket if the state does shut down, is the governor who can’t govern. That leaves him irrelevant, but as Hynes says, there’s worse.

* Dan Hynes was apparently making the rounds of editorial boards yesterday…

Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes said Thursday it is irresponsible for Gov. Rod Blagojevich to threaten a government shutdown if the legislature doesn’t send him a budget to his liking.

“It’s my belief that it would do a disservice to all state employees and all who rely on state government to allow government to be shut down or to allow the prospect of a shutdown to be used for political or legislative advantage,” Hynes told the editorial board of The State Journal-Register.

“If the legislature passes a 12-month budget by a supermajority vote, the game’s over,” Hynes said. “And to throw out the idea of a government shutdown is, I think, a dangerous thing.”

* The SJ-R ran an accompanying editorial…

We know the governor is passionate about his priorities, but for decades governors have had to settle for less than what they hoped for and come back to fight another day.

We strongly urge Gov. Blagojevich to keep that in mind if a budget passed with a supermajority reaches his desk soon. At that point, as Hynes said, “The game’s over.” Blagojevich does not need to like that fact, but disregarding it would be incredibly selfish and possibly disastrous for our state.

*** UPDATE *** I forgot about Krol’s weekly column today. Sorry, Eric…

Although you can never be certain while the General Assembly is still in session, Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich is slipping dangerously close to irrelevancy.

This week, the four legislative leaders appeared to be on the verge of negotiating a budget deal to end the state-record overtime session without the governor’s involvement.

Blagojevich threatened a veto, but that threat ultimately almost surely will prove hollow: after all, a 3/5th majority is needed to pass any OT budget. And 3/5th also happens to be the margin required to override the governor’s veto. So any veto would be quickly overridden, leaving the governor to call endless special sessions lawmakers will ignore. Blagojevich would be yelling into the empty abyss, like some overacting B-movie villain whose plans went awry.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 9:07 am

Comments

Rod: I’m not irrelevant. I’m NOT irrelevant! I’M NOT IRRELEVANT DAMMIT!!! Heeeellllooooooo!!!

Comment by Chicago Cynic Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 9:17 am
That really sums it all up. Not much to add except it’s sad. I was in NYC the other day waiting at JFK for a flight when two businessmen seated next to me were complaining about the latest chest pounding going on in Albany with the NY Governor. The one guy says the only place where a Governor is more lost and out of control than NY is Illinois!

Comment by Wile Coyote Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 9:18 am
So, is it the same strategy on raising the sales tax a quarter cents for RTA and a quarter cents for roads, thus raising taxes about $200 a year for collar county families? (If you are interested in the analysis, it’s at McHenry County Blog.)

Comment by Cal Skinner Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 9:19 am
Pass a budget and override his veto:
The downside is the Governor stays in Ravenswood and doesn’t go to Springfield?

So he shuts down government until veto overridden? Is that same day? Next day? Send home the DOC guards? State Police [ooops there goes his Executive Protection and daily use of state plane/pilots] All IDOT bridge inspectors?? Great idea!

Comment by North of I-80 Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 9:22 am
It seems to me that the Governor would settle for what seems to be the compromise plan coming out on the spending side.

As long as the revenue is there to match what they say they want to spend.

That seems to be the general issue - they have all compromised on the spending. But nobody has the balls to do anything on the revenue side. Whether it is gaming, cigarette taxes, or even an income tax increase.

That has been the problem for over 30 years - Ds and Rs in the general assembly like to spend, but don’t like to have to make the hard choices when it comes to revenue.

Comment by hmmmm Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 9:23 am
“How did we lose to this guy?”

Comment by Jim and Judy Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 9:29 am
As much as I dislike the Governor, the editorial boards vastly underestimate the power of any governor when it comes to a budget that he or she doesn’t like.

While the General Assembly can pass any budget they choose, the Governor has almost unlimited authority to implement that budget. And, he could make things very unpleasant for everyone if he truly is opposed to the budget.

A selective and targeted veto of specific lines (legislative salaries, constitutional officers staffs, etc.) could put lawmakers in a box on specific override motions.

Even if the legislature overrode every action he takes, there is nothing to force the Governor to release funds — ultimately he and his agencies control the spending authority.

So, while all the talk of making the Governor irrelevant sounds good, the reality is that he has a lot of tools left in his belt should he choose to use them.

The fascinating thing is the this Governor seems so intent of bullying, pouting and screaming, when he could be much more effective by quietly using the tools at hand.

Comment by Old Elephant Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 9:31 am
Okay…it’s a Zero Sum game…
Time to pass a 3/5’s budget and get on with summer….before it’s gone!

Comment by Siyotanka Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 9:37 am
Doesn’t overriding a veto take a 2/3 majority?

Comment by Crimefighter Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 9:39 am
‘ … if the Legislature passes a budget with a veto-proof majority, the debate is pretty much over … ‘

The Legislature MUST pass a budget with a veto-proof majority, if any of that budget is intended to take effect before Jan. 1, 2008.

Comment by Linus Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 9:40 am
He’s through plane and simple. He reminds me of a person that I know that……oh never mind, he’s just irrelavent that says it all. My only question is what do we do for the next 3 years to prevent him from embarassing our state even more.

Comment by downhereforyears Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 9:43 am
“Blagojevich would be yelling into the empty abyss, like some overacting B-movie villain whose plans went awry.”

Nice imagery.

Comment by Ghost Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 9:48 am
I have a bad feeling that even if the legislators can come up with a budget, he’ll either take either an inordinate amount of time or even the full 60 days to review it before sending it back. The legislators hands will be tied until he veto’s it and sends it back. I do, however, believe that would be political suicide. Where the state employees and those who receive state services fall in all of this, who knows and I doubt Blago cares.

Comment by Ms. Rutan Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 9:50 am
Crimefighter — no, not in Illinois. 3/5.

Comment by So Ill Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 9:52 am
So basically the state congress already had to pass a budget with a veto-proof majority as of July 1st?

Comment by Crimefighter Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 10:04 am
Yup. You got it.

Comment by So Ill Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 10:06 am
“Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes said Thursday it is irresponsible for Gov. Rod Blagojevich to threaten a government shutdown if the legislature doesn’t send him a budget to his liking.”

Kudos to Hynes for saying this.

Comment by Squideshi Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 10:16 am
So, add Hynes to the list of wannabee Blago replacements in 2010. But I think you have to do more than complain to win voter interest. Alexi is taking the right tack, I believe. He’s keeping quiet.

Whatever budget finally gets through, it’s likely that in an election year even the most liberal Dems, Ronenites and Hamosites coming to mind, will be skittish about trying to raise the income or sales taxes. And 2009 is getting a little too close to the 2010 primaries. So if we can just get through the next couple of weeks or so, the Dems may stay out of our wallets until 2011. Not perfect, but it’s almost four years. Not bad.

Comment by Cassandra Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 10:39 am
The “executive filibuster” has now evolved inot the “executive filibluster.”

Dan Hynes is doing an outstanding job speaking out on bhealf of the public interest. Why aren’t other public officals doing the same?

It’s time for all civic and elected leaders of conscience to stand up and be counted and speak out against the various and sundry outrages being perpetrated by Governor Strangelove.

Kudos to the man who should be Governor, Dan Hynes, and the Sun-Times and Tribune editorial boards.

Comment by Captain America Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 10:41 am
When I read the Guv’s letter, I immediately thought “pocket veto.” It hardly matters if the legislation is passed by a veto proof majority if he does not actually veto it, does it? Perhaps the Guv wishes to establish that he is not irrelevant, and ultimately he can shut down government by simply letting the legislation lie on his desk. Then, he could apply serious pressure to the legislature. Thoughts?

Comment by Pocket Veto Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 11:05 am
Blago may have a lot of tools left but they are coming from his Fisher Price I Wanna Be A GrownUp Tool Box. This guy has spent whatever political capital he ever had. He will not recover politically from this fiasco. This budget mess has gone on for too long, has been far reaching in the media, and now even the far corners of the State know what a duffus he is. He is totally irrelevant. Oh yeah, I expect him to come up with some childish games throughout the year. That’s what he has hired his staff to do - try to outfox the legislature. However, in doing so, he will just be burying himself deeper into a hole he will never get out of.

Two other thoughts: Dick Mel - are you enjoying all of this?

Dan Hynes - don’t waste your money on an exploratory committee for Governor. JUST RUN!

Comment by Little Egypt Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 11:29 am
Serious pressure, yes, but what about the outcry from various social service agencies (amongst the many other services that people take for granted) when they aren’t getting any state services? Isn’t that political suicide to say the least?

Comment by Tunes Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 11:32 am
Tunes,

“Isn’t that political suicide to say the least?”

Your presumption is, he’s still alive politically. Politically, he is on a resperator, and it has entirely been a self inflicted wound.

Comment by True Comparison Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 12:26 pm
But my sources tell me that he can and probably will still get re-elected in 2010 (unless he’s indicted, of course). He has so much money stockpiled it won’t matter. As we found out, it is all about who has the money in an election year. Our only othger hope is Obama ends up in the Whitehouse as a Pres. or VP in 08′ and he appoints himself to the U.S. Senate! (WE CAN ONLY HOPE THAT HE’D MAKE THIS UNPRECEDENTED MOVE).

Comment by Tunes Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 12:32 pm
I wouldn’t be so sure Blago could get reelected, I’m sure someone will challenge in him in the primaries this time.

Comment by Crimefighter Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 1:06 pm
“- Crimefighter - Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 1:06 pm:
I wouldn’t be so sure Blago could get reelected, I’m sure someone will challenge in him in the primaries this time. ”

Gre-a-a-a-a-t. So we get candidates from TWO fractured parties to choose from. At least the Greens got enough votes last November to get themselves on the ballot.

Comment by What planet is he from again? Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 1:20 pm
The political historians will have to enlighten us here, but how frequently is a sitting (unindicted)
governor unseated involuntarily in the party primary. It has to be a rare event. Incumbency and name recognition are huge factors in voting decisions.

And whoever ran against him in the primary would have to seriously consider possible career repercussions if they lost. Incumbents also have huge influence on the selection of their successor
candidates when they do step down. Lisa and Alexi could wait a couple more terms and still be younger than Blago is now if they ran.

Comment by Cassandra Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 2:10 pm
“As we found out, it is all about who has the money in an election year.”

Money is a very important factor; however, it is not the only factor. There are smarter, more efficient ways to run a grassroots campaign, using volunteer people power. Like Rich Whitney said in 2006, “The people of Illinois will appreciate a Governor who knows how to do more with less.”

“Gre-a-a-a-a-t. So we get candidates from TWO fractured parties to choose from. At least the Greens got enough votes last November to get themselves on the ballot.”

Right, and even days before the election, only about half of eligible voters had even heard anything about Rich Whitney. Assuming that we had reached 100%, the total could have been more like 21% of the total vote. There is somewhat of a snowball effect here–the campaign in 2006 drew in a tremendous number of people (more than doubling the membership of the Illinois Green Party) and that means that we now have more volunteers to help get out the message next time. Maybe next time we’ll be able to reach 75%; and assuming that things stay exactly the same (which they won’t) that would translate into something like 16% of the total vote–gradual, constant growth.

As people start to get over their fears of voting for candidates outside the Democratic and Republican parties, that total will go up even further. In fact, I would go so far as to say that when this “tipping point” is reached, our vote totals could double or triple. The tipping point came into view, on the horizon, in 2006; and we’re still inching closer toward it. Whether or not these ongoing shenanigans will burn people out and finally push them over the edge in frustration, we have yet to see. Anything can happen.

Incidentally, the primary election in Illinois is a joke. The winning candidate within each party doesn’t need to achieve a majority–only a plurality–so that means that the vote is often split and minority-viewpoint candidates are nominated. In addition, ANYONE can run to become a party’s candidate; and ANYONE can request and vote any political party’s ballot in the primary–regardless of true party affiliation and regardless of the wishes of that party. Just a small violation of our right to freedom of assocation.

Comment by Squideshi Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 3:02 pm
Info about late payments can also be found here:
http://www.sj-r.com/extras/breaking/index.asp

Comment by Little Egypt Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 3:23 pm
Hey Cassandra 10:39 a.m. who is Alexi? Give me a break. Some young rich banker, with still questionable banking ties who won on an Obama commercial is going to be the next governor? What Kool aid are you drinking? Then again you may be right we do have Blago.

Comment by anon Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 9:32 pm
I wasn’t crazy about Hynes, but I have to give him credit. He’s got my vote. I am impressed that finally another Constitutional Officer is speaking up. I doubt our State Treasurer Alexi Gianoulias will say anything. I am told he is pretty much tied to Emil Jones, Jesse Jackson, and Barack Obama, and will stay quiet. He will not criticize this governor. What a shame. It’s refreshing to see Hynes having some guts. He just made a mile wide gap between him and his Treasurer counterpart, Alexi Giannoulias. Go get him Dan!!!! And Alex use some of your money and get some good advisors. Hybrid cars just don’t cut it.

Comment by anon Friday, Aug 3, 07 @ 9:40 pm