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* There’s a basic agreement on a state budget, but lots of issues are still up in the air…
…the four legislative leaders met again without Blagojevich and said they moved closer to a bipartisan agreement on a spending plan for a full fiscal year, including money to pay for state employees and money for schools.
Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson (R-Greenville) said a budget deal is “getting very, very close,” but he warned it is “very fragile.”
Still in question is whether a final deal would include a land-based casino in Chicago and possibly an additional casino elsewhere, as a way to boost education spending and fund a capital program to build and repair roads, bridges and schools.
Schools would get an increase of $600 million in operating money without expanded gambling, but the amount could rise to $900 million if lawmakers approve a Chicago casino and allow riverboats to expand the number of gambling positions. But those figures were in flux Tuesday as lawmakers tried to figure out whether a bill to expand gambling could pass or whether there is another way to boost money for schools without it.
* There was also a long meeting last night in the governor’s office…
Working into the night, Gov. Rod Blagojevich huddled in his Capitol office with Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago), Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson (R-Greenville) and House Minority Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego) for more than four hours. House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) was not at the meeting with the governor, who has feuded with the speaker throughout the session.
The topic at hand centered on working toward a consensus on a capital budget, which would provide money for school construction, roads, bridges, universities and other projects. […]
Most lawmakers think they are close to sealing a deal on the operating budget, and voting on it could begin Wednesday. Politically, though, issues can get tied together at the end of sessions. And in this extraordinary session, a proposal for a Chicago casino is in the middle. […]
Is a casino agreed to among all the participants in the meeting—the governor, Watson, Jones and Cross? “I think that’s certainly the case. Yes, a Chicago casino.” [Blagojevich said.]
With the three leaders in the room tonight and yourself? “That’s right.”
Do you see a chance that another casino could be brought into the package? “I don’t foresee that. That was never discussed in there.”
* Ryan Hermes adds…
Today appears to be a BIG day at the statehouse.
But ask anyone who’s been here before and they’ll tell you it could just as easily be a bust.
Things can change really quick around here.
Yep.
* More budget and end of session stories, compiled by Paul…
* State expected to finally vote on budget
* Lawmakers closing some gaps in stalled budget
* Budget crisis may begin hitting pocketbooks
* Phil Luciano: Overtime session alternative is charity
* Democrats won’t hold up budget over electric rates
* Eric Zorn: Governor gets off his high horse, but is it too late?
* Local schools feel burden of state’s missing budget
* For now schools OK without state budget
* Illinois schools are left hanging by budget crisis
* Blagojevich wants to change who’s in charge on info. requests
* Editorial: Abandon amendment to keep governor in town
* Expand rail service, lawmakers, officials say
* Editorial: Law on dams may spare needless grief
* CTA vote could mean $3.25 per L ride
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 9:38 am
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Am I correct in my understanding that the
Blago regime has never actually submitted
a proposed budget to the legislature this
year?
Comment by Esteban Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 9:40 am
You are incorrect.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 9:46 am
“While Jacobs said he’s been working with Japanese railway officials to discuss eventual high-speed rail in Illinois, first Amtrak service needs to be extended to cities including Rock Island and Rockford.”
Kudos to Jacobs on this, but more than just talk is required here. Illinois needs to prove and reinforce that it is a technology leader; and that means that we need to do something REALLY advanced, like building a VacTrain from Chicago to St. Louis. Our state is already a leader in a very similar technology, serving as host to Fermilab (A VacTrain is roughly similar to a particle accelerator, with the train serving as the “particle” in an evacuated tube.)
Comment by Squideshi Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 9:48 am
Sounds like everything could be back to normal soon. That’s not good news for us taxpayers, necessarily.
Schools will continue to have money poured upon them with no requirements that they use it wisely or that kids actually progress in learning. Teachers and school administrators will make out like bandits, regardless of whether the kids learn anything. Teachers unions will quiet down for a couple of months then start demanding more money and an income tax increase.
State employees will get raises unconnected to performance and pegged to the power of their political sponsors. The union will negotiate huge raises, also unconnected to performance, for unionized staff. Agencies like DHS and DCFS will get more money to mismanage with and a sense of urgency will continue to be lacking in these and most state agencies. A nice sleepy place to work.
A few bridges will get repaired.
State contractors (especially the construction ones) will get even richer and will continue to contribute large sums to Blagojevich
who will run for another term in 2010 and win.
The bone thrown to the taxpayers is no income tax increase.
Another year in Illinois.
Comment by Cassandra Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 9:50 am
I forgot to mention that Illinois is also a leader in another related technology–tunneling. The technology used in conjunction with the Deep Tunnel project is considered an engineering marvel and was used as the basis for building the Chunnel.
Comment by Squideshi Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 9:51 am
Why, at this late date, would MMadigan decide to push himself away from the negotiating table? Feud or no feud, Madigan should have been there.
Comment by Little Egypt Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 9:52 am
Cassandra, I grow weary of your predictable slams against all state workers. FYI, not all state workers are (a) union drones with no accountability, or (b) political hacks with no qualifications. FYI, I’m not covered by a contract and haven’t seen a significant raise since 02. I didn’t even get the $200/month bone thrown to MC employees this year. FYI, I have more college degrees than you and experience for my job. I have no political clout. FYI, I routinely work more than 37.5 hours/week. I take my job seriously. Cassandra, there are still a few professionals left in state government and your constant slams are an insult to us.
Comment by Stereotype Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 10:06 am
Well, I guess if the mass transit fails to get its money, that is the push I need to move out of Chicago and the state.
Comment by tom73 Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 10:29 am
What a shame we did not end up with Topinka. It appears we are going to implement her budget plan anyway. This could have all been adverted if Illinois voters wised up to Blagos empty promises.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 10:35 am
Just curious if Cross actually attending the meeting with the Governor. Capital Fax said he sent a surrogate, but this post claimed he was there.
Clarification Rich?
Comment by Jaded Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 10:36 am
Stereo,
You work more than 37.5 hours per week? Oh my God, how can you cope with such hardship! Give me a break.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 10:38 am
Jaded, Cross’ spokesman said this morning that Cross was in a meeting with a candidate and sent Rep. Brent Hassert to the guv’s office. You’d have to ask the Trib why they reported he was there.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 10:43 am
Cassandra, where does all the bitterness towards State Workers come from? You sound so miserable that I had to comment. Where, may I ask do you work? Obviously you’re not on top of the world, but lose the chip on your shoulder. It’s not the fine State of Illinos workers’ fault. Oh yes, “Teachers making out like bandits”? You just became as credible as G-Rod.
Comment by pay attention Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 10:46 am
Anonymous @ 10:38 - Don’t be a jerk. Stereotype is not in any way indicating that it is a “hardship” to work more than 37.5 hours per week. He’s simply responding to Cassandra’s blanket (and unfair) statement about state employees and how they don’t do any work during the normal 37.5-hour day, let alone bother to work any overtime. Plenty state workers put in a lot of overtime because they want to produce good work and are now doing the jobs of 2 or 3 people because vacant positions aren’t getting filled.
So, give US a break. And, like Stereotype, I, too, am growing weary of Cassandra’s insults - especially because once people challenge her on it and give examples of where she is wrong, she goes into hiding and doesn’t even respond to examples that contradict what she’s saying. If she can prove that ALL state employees are worthless, and that there isn’t a single one who deserves their salary and benefits, she is more than welcome to do that. But since she can’t, she should just shut up already.
Comment by Anonymous ZZZ Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 10:48 am
OK, let’s move along, please.
However, Cassandra, I really would like you to explain one day where this hostility comes from.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 10:50 am
I don’t think the Speaker is ready to let the Governor off the hook. He might not want to give him anything to hang his hat on including a Chicago casino. I wouldn’t be surprised if this whole thing falls apart pretty quick.
Comment by Garp Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 11:00 am
Thanks for the clarification Rich. I just wonder if Madigan had sent his Majority Leader to this meeting if the Governor would have demanded Madigan’s presence, and stomped out of the meeting until Madigan showed up.
Comment by Jaded Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 11:04 am
The IFA proposed bailout of the schools put forward by the Gov. is a complete fraud.
Comment by MOON Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 11:04 am
I heard the Speaker wasn’t invited to the meeting, not that he just didn’t show up - is that true?
Comment by johnsonville Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 11:10 am
tom73 — i agree, cuts in transit would make me seriously reconsider why i’m living in Chicago, considering good transit was the primary reason i moved here. i think a lot of people are thinking the same thing, and unfortunately, a lot of large companies will also reconsider why they should be in the Loop when it’s cheaper in the suburbs, if the Loop is going to loose its greatest advantage — good transit.
Comment by Lee Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 11:19 am
30 grand is just so much money - crazy! I know I wouldn’t want to make that - even at 37-1/2 hours a week.
Comment by Toto Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 11:43 am
Have the legislative leaders already decided anything regarding funding the pensions or pension reform? I haven’t heard much about this lately and know that it is a huge problem for the state. Has any agreement been made about what to do?
Comment by Concerned Employee Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 11:48 am
Concerned Employee -
I think the House decided not to do anything with regard to pensions when they voted down the Governor’s pension plan at the beginning of July.
Comment by johnsonville Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 11:50 am
I don’t understand why the pension situation is being pushed off the table by everyone. It is bad enough that the last two years the pension payments have been deferred (I believe) and now no one wants to tackle the issue of funding the pension or reforming the pension system. Thank you elected officials for not doing your job again.
Comment by Concerned Employee Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 11:54 am
I wouldn’t equate critical with bitter and I get my information from the newspapers like everybody else.
I mentioned DHS and DCFS because of widely publicized information that one of the facilities for the disabled managed by DHS lost, or almost lost federal funding this year because they failed to correct deficiencies despite repeated warnings to do so. Sounds like poor work to me.
Here in Chicago this week we are reading of a 13
year old blind, disabled child whose parents have been charged with her brutal murder. DCFS had been
called in July and was supposedly investigating
her care when she died in August. The medical examiner found a lot of old and new injuries, some apparently missed by DCFS It’s reasonble to be critical when we taxpayers pay DCFS over a billion a year and something like this happens. What’s interesting is how little outrage there has been.
Then there are the Dan Ryan cost overruns…
I could go on and on. But government care of the most vulnerable among us is a fair indicator
of how well government works. Not how hard state employees think they are working or whether they think they are getting paid enough.
I would also point out that even though I have clearly stated I don’t like Blagojevich and didn’t vote for him , I have consistently supported his goal of universal health insurance and I support his decision to hold up the state budget to try to bring that about. Blago, I would note, is a state employee too.
Comment by Cassandra Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 11:55 am
“Blago, I would note, is a state employee too.” No he is not. He is elected. Other than the constitutional requirements, one does not have to be qualified or have qualifications to run for office.
Comment by Siyotanka Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 12:17 pm
Cassandra, Dan Ryan cost overruns are no different than any other major road project. My past career with the Federal Highway Administration gives me an insight into roadwork that you cannot understand. Dan Ryan work is 90/10 money - Fed/State. Mother Nature plays a big part in roadbuilding and She always has the last word, thus making cost overruns and delays in construction inevitable. For a project that takes years to complete, factor in increased material costs that contractors do not, and should not, absorb.
DCFS is another story in itself as LE spouse had a proud career there. Again, you have to work in the system to understand the legalities and hoops everyone has to adhere to/jump through. This is a very litigious society and every single “i” has to be dotted and “t” crossed.
I’m sorry you have a lack of understanding and compassion for State workers. I have a deep admiration for anyone to serves the public in any form or fashion (other than a majority of politicians).
Comment by Little Egypt Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 12:23 pm
Still sounds bitter to me. I read the paper and do not come to the same conclusions as Cassandra. There is real hostility there- everyone is paid too much and is lazy. Try a professional position with the state or become a teacher and get back to me in a few years.
Comment by Shallow Pharnyx Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 12:37 pm
Cassandra, ALERT THE MEDIA! A brutal murder in Chicago! Wow, and you would think that the DCFS employess, outnumbered by about a million to one by the disabled, poor and just crazy people, would have been able to cut through the red tape and solve that case immediately. And you ask why “they” didn’t stop it in time? Who do you mean “they”…the legal assistant, the janitor, a secretary, the parking attendant…wait, you are blaming the entire department? Excellent work again. Keep reading those newspapers.
Comment by pay attention Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 12:41 pm
Cassandra, unless I am the exception that proves the rule, you’re just wrong about raises and political sponsorship. In the many years I worked for the State, I supervised thousands of employees and I could count on the fingers of my hands the times a political “sponsor” asked me to do a pay raise for someone. And, I wouldn’t have known the “political sponsors” names for 5% of those thousands of employees, if they in fact had one.
As to your problems with your schools I suggest you elect people who agree with you to your school board, and if you can’t. don’t blame state government for how your schools and teachers perform.
Comment by steve schnorf Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 5:26 pm
Cassandra, you are aptly named.
Comment by Disgusted Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 10:10 pm
The story about IDOT changing its FOIA officer (Blago wants to change who’s in charge…) is way overblown. Many agencies have staff attorneys serving as their FOIA officers. It’s nothing new.
Yikes, I have been a chatterbox today for some reason : )
Comment by Lainer Wednesday, Aug 8, 07 @ 11:49 pm