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* Oops. I forgot to link Rich’s syndicated column this week on Blago’s ‘political’ veto

* Pork plays its own politics

On one hand, it’s a rare opportunity — especially for suburban politicians — to bring home state tax dollars. Without it, “we wouldn’t see anything,” state Sen. John Millner, a Carol Stream Republican said.

That’s because household incomes and high property values tend to disqualify many suburban communities for state funding through traditional bureaucracies.

The idea behind letting members add on to the budget is that they know best what’s needed back home.
On the other hand, questionable projects and the secretive nature of it all leads to inevitable criticism.

* Illinois budget standoff ended

* Insulting to call it ‘pork’

* Gov’s budget moves ’so political’

* Governor’s plan for health care in panel’s hands

* Special sessions aren’t so special

* Hilkevitch: RTA still on fast track to cuts

The sad reality that the state’s politicians are allowing the mobility of the Chicago region to go down to the wire indicates to many observers that the RTA’s “Moving Beyond Congestion” campaign on behalf of increased mass-transit funding has failed miserably, while enriching politically connected RTA consultants hired to run the campaign.

“I think the evidence suggests that the RTA legislative strategy was a bust,” said Joseph Schofer, a transportation professor at Northwestern University. “They sang a song of [CTA and Metra] line extensions while the system was going down. And they did not deliver on long-promised reforms. It’s bad.”

House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) has promised to try to resolve the monthslong stalemate between the General Assembly and Blagojevich, who vows to veto any new taxes, in time to prevent the impending transit doomsday.

* Editorial: At least state finally has a budget, but game not over

* Editorial: State budget a bust for the suburbs

* Editorial: Tale of a greedy gov

* Schoenburg: Dillard on budget

posted by Paul Richardson
Monday, Aug 27, 07 @ 7:25 am

Comments

No one seems to be siding with the Gov. But the reality is what does he care if people call him names? He has the job, and ultimatly shouts of playing politics serve nothing but perhaps to serve as a vent for the angered.

Comment by Ghost Monday, Aug 27, 07 @ 8:12 am
Actually, the state budget, and the guv’s related plans to expand affordable health care, are not a bust for all Chicagoland suburbs.

The numerous suburbs with large and growing Hispanic populations will benefit from an expansion of affordable health care. Hispanics are the ethnic group least likely to have health insurance in Illinois, followed by whites. African Americans are least likely to be uninsured in Illinois. In the long run, if the guv’s universal health care objective is even partially successfuly, the burden will come off public system like Stroger Hospital. Hopefully, this will be achieved, at least partially, by providing financial incentives for citizens to purchase good private insurance so they don’t have to rely on Medicaid.

Another benefit is a negative one, to be sure, but significant. Blago will increase financial aid to schools but there will be no income tax swap. The swap would have lowered property taxes for a year or so (before they rose again and kept rising) but
the advantage to school funding’s reliance on local property taxes is that local citizens retain considerable control over those monies.

A tax swap would have put far more of those monies under state control, with predictable results and the possibility of the guv and the legislature making school funding allotments based on politics. One can imagine Blago, Emil and the rest of our feckless legislators handing out school funding just like they hand out pork, with politicis, not good schools, the top priority.

Comment by Cassandra Monday, Aug 27, 07 @ 8:17 am
Paul,
The best story here is Blago goes to the fair but is afraid to show his face. What a coward.
Hiding behind the state police. These are the same guys that can’t use his washroom.

Comment by Lula May Monday, Aug 27, 07 @ 8:32 am
Most of these issues could be resolved by changing the way Illinois’ funds campaigns. If we could limit the $$$ donated by organizations and individuals, the legislators wouldn’t be obligated to reward these donors. The $$$ has absolutely ruined Illinois politics. The problem of course is the legislators would have to approve campaign finance reform and this isn’t going to happen. We need people in public service who aren’t influenced by $$$, and that isn’t the current group we have in there, starting with the Gov.

Comment by ChokingCub Monday, Aug 27, 07 @ 8:41 am
The Southern
BY Blackwell Thomas
Governor stays out of sight: Blagojevich attends fair but does not mingle with the public or press.

Comment by Lula May Monday, Aug 27, 07 @ 9:13 am
Which comment was dumber?
1. BlunderBoyBlaggo’s staff comment about how important all their special sessions were(even though they FAILED to submit any legislation)

2. Or this doozy from DuQuoin on eleectric:
The legislation includes about $1 billion in refunds for Ameren and Commonwealth Edison customers whose rates spiked this past January when a decade-long rate freeze expired.

Rausch said the governor’s office is still looking over the legislation. “We are going to take our time and review it,” she said. “We are still working on it and we just aren’t there yet.”

Maybe they are casting for Dumb and Dumber II

Comment by Mr. W.T. Rush Monday, Aug 27, 07 @ 9:19 am
W.T.,
Your comment was the dumbest.

Comment by Bill Monday, Aug 27, 07 @ 9:58 am
Cassandra,

You realize that the single biggest piece of the Governor’s announced plans for healthcare expansion was providing Medicaid to single adults (his estimates were $200 million in FY2008). So your post in which you praise the Governor’s healthcare plan and condemn Medicaid…well, it seems to be contradictory.

Comment by Budget Watcher Monday, Aug 27, 07 @ 10:02 am
I didn’t intend to be contradictory.

I don’t like Medicaid because I think we are moving towards a two tier system in this country (Medicare/Medicaid/Family Care/Allkids vs. private insurance for the upper middle class and the wealthy-those wealthy who don’t self insure). The former will have access to lower quality care while the latter will have a choice of high quality care options. I would prefer to see a government funded health system which operates through subsidies to individual consumers to enable them to purchase private care.

But it goes without saying that having a Medicaid card is far, far superior to having no coverage at all. It gets you into the hospital and the ER. It provides continuing coverage for those with serious illnesses. It enables recipients to purchase medication without going bankrupt.
It provides relief from the huge stress that comes from being ill and having no coverage at all-and unable to get any at even high cost because of “pre-existing conditions.”

If Medicaid expansion to uninsured or underinsured adults is the best we can do right now, we should do it. Right now.

Comment by Cassandra Monday, Aug 27, 07 @ 10:21 am
I’m stiil confident that no one will be able to take the political heat for the pending mass transit meltdown, and that something will gert done.

The primary problem is that Republican votes are required. Republicans want a capital bill in return for their support. The multibillion dollar question is how a capital bill might be funded.

I hear the key players have not decided on a strategy to get the Julie Hamos’s plan passed.

Comment by Captain America Monday, Aug 27, 07 @ 10:32 am
There seems to be just a bit of spin as it relates to the governor’s budget, which is understandable. What I am having difficulty with is the difference between what was approved by the legislature, what he actually cut, and what last year’s budget was for those same items? Sure would help sort things out. Also would be helpful to know which items were actually new proposed dollars? Is there a site that readily details this info?

Comment by Justice Monday, Aug 27, 07 @ 10:38 am
Cassandra, I’m trying to believe that African Americans have the least uninsured. Is that by total numbers or percentage of each race? Two if our Governor really wanted to help with the Pre-exes out there while getting doctors on board, he could utilize ICHIP by adding funds there and reduce premiums. ICHIP uses Blue Cross of Il network, which is a pretty extensive network. I still find the last minute campaign contribution by Wellcare/Harmony to the Governors fall win to smell a little foul.

Comment by Southern Right Monday, Aug 27, 07 @ 10:49 am
Choking, if you believe elected officials are so unethical, I have a suggestion for you. Take some money, go to the Capitol, and try to buy a vote. You’ll end up in jail.

Comment by steve schnorf Monday, Aug 27, 07 @ 11:52 am
Two points:

1. From the Sun-Times article by Chirstpopher Wills on the veto:

“But aides deny that politics or retribution played any part in his cuts, which the Legislature could vote to restore. ‘We cut projects we didn’t think were essential or couldn’t afford,’ said Deputy Chief of Staff Becky Carroll.”

Talk about doozies! Honesty departed the Governor’s Office long ago.

2. These legislators are nuts if they think the RTA and CTA cuts and fare hikes will have no effect on them. The memory of this disgraceful budget fracas will fade, but those service cuts and increased fares will be staring Chicagoland voters in the face, at minimum until supplemental spending takes effect sometime next year, maybe longer.

Comment by Anon Monday, Aug 27, 07 @ 11:54 am
Bill
Everyone thought you had wised up and climbed out of the sink hole that is BlunderBoyBlaggo brain trust.
Guess we were misled
Too bad for you

Comment by Mr. W.T. Rush Monday, Aug 27, 07 @ 11:54 am
“Why yes Justice there is such a site….in fact it can be reviewed in Rich’s syndicated column posted above by Paul.” I answer myself to help me remain somewhat sane from the gov’s vendetta binge. He’s been fighting so long he has started randomly and more frequently fighting himself. One can only imagine what the next few months will bring. The old curse of “may you live in interesting times” is upon us.

Comment by Justice Monday, Aug 27, 07 @ 12:29 pm
You wonder whether Blago and his people have any idea how many Dem voters they have lost these last couple of months…lucky them they have plenty of time until the next election. If it is like this again next year…Blago is cooked.

Comment by Niles Township Monday, Aug 27, 07 @ 1:13 pm
Cassandra,

I’m still confused whether Medicaid is good or as you’ve said previously…an ill-managed program that promotes limited access and poor quality care. Nevertheless, the General Assembly never got to debate the healthcare issue, including the best solutions to achieving greater coverage. Instead, we got a petulant Governor and several self-serving legislators from the same political party who couldn’t agree on anything (except for the pay raise), including when to meet and who should be invited.

I would much rather have seen the debate be “how and how much” in order to to achieve some of these goals. What the state ended up with is a mess of a budget and intense bitterness. There’s a serious void of leadership and unfortunately we have at least three more years left.

Comment by Budget Watcher Monday, Aug 27, 07 @ 1:26 pm
Steve,
Are you saying there is no “pay to play” going on in this state?

Comment by ChokingCub Monday, Aug 27, 07 @ 2:09 pm
It has gotten worse. Now it’s Pay and No Play.

Comment by A Citizen Monday, Aug 27, 07 @ 2:13 pm
Why should we in Southern IL, you know anything south of I80 is southern IL to Chicago people, bail out there mass transit system. Why cant they propose a local tax in the Chicagoland area to pay for it. I dont use it so I dont want to pay for it…….

Comment by Cardsfan Monday, Aug 27, 07 @ 2:19 pm
Cardsfan,
that’s exactly what they’ve proposed to do — increase the sales tax in the Chicago region to pay for it.

Comment by anon Monday, Aug 27, 07 @ 2:25 pm
OMG…it gets worse…
Governor sues to force Madigan to honor special session calls
Last Updated 8/27/2007 1:59:46 PM

By BERNARD SCHOENBURG
POLITICAL WRITER

Gov. Rod Blagojevich has gone to court to force House Speaker Michael Madigan to hold special sessions when the governor calls one.

Comment by Siyotanka Monday, Aug 27, 07 @ 2:40 pm
Cardsfan,
You people continue to amuse me. Do you really think you’re paying taxes for northeast Illinois. If you didn’t have the Chicagoland area this state would cease to exist. We pay for every government program you have. Schools, roads and anything you can freeload.

Comment by Lula May Monday, Aug 27, 07 @ 2:44 pm
Cassandra, and others following health care –

the issue is not helath care access. Go to any community hospital, and right above the intake / insurance desk there is a sign that says “this is a Medicaid and Medicare facility, and we serve all persons regardless of ability to pay.”

The issue is health care costs coverage. And what the Governor originally tried to do was get more employers back into offering their employees health care insurance — or having to pay into pools of funds that would serve as back-up insurance carriers for these lower income wage employees. In this manner, the State’s fiscal responsibility for Medicaid would stop growing like topsy. But the major employers and General Assembly rejected the idea, so it was dropped.

The craziness here in the current “Budget Veto / gotcha” scenario is that by picking up the coverage of lower wage workers and their dependents under expanded Medicaid programs, the State is actually expanding its Medicaid costs and future growth with none of the employer responsibilities that were the beauty of the original plan. It makes the state government budget more out of whack in the immediate future, as the programs get implemented (if they get implemented).

This assumes that private practice physicians and private for-profit hospitals and clinics will serve these expanded patients. More and more private clinics already have posted signs saying “no Medicaid or state welfare patients”. They’re tired of the insufficient reimbursement rates and waiting months for that insufficient payment. The Governor gets the press for expanding health care access, but the reality is that the patients will still have to go to the same public hospitals that they go to now, and get served just as well or poorly as they have been.

Remember: health care cost coverage is the issue, not health care access. Cost coverage is the real issue, and where the Governor’s plan falls apart.

Comment by capitol view Monday, Aug 27, 07 @ 2:49 pm
“Governor sues to force Madigan to honor special session calls”

- I’m sure the taxpayers of Illinois will see this as an issue of critical importance to their well-being, and not a putrid, titanic, uber-political waste of their money.

Comment by Linus Monday, Aug 27, 07 @ 3:29 pm
Choking,
No, I’m not, because I’m not sure. What I am saying is that most legislators you couldn’t give enough money to to buy a vote on an issue they disagreed with.

Have you considered the possibility that some people give money to legislators because of how they vote, not vice versa.

Comment by steve schnorf Monday, Aug 27, 07 @ 4:36 pm