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* 1:27 pm - The House is planning a Committee of the Whole. The press release didn’t come through properly, so I’ll get back to you in a few minutes.

Also, I’m told by the governor’s office that a hearing scheduled for today on the governor’s lawsuit against the House clerk has been postponed until tomorrow. The governor wanted the court to force the clerk to retroactively enter the guv’s veto message into the House Journal for Sept. 4 - the last time the House was in session. A Sangamon County judge (Kelly) has been holding meetings with both sides to try to work out an agreement, but no luck so far.

If the House had entered the veto messages into the journal on the 4th, they would have been required to take some action on the override by today.

* 2:25 pm - Thanks to some commenters, it needs to be pointed out that the Senate did not enter the governor’s vetoes into its journal on Monday, as the governor claims the Constitution requires in his suit against the House Clerk. The governor has vetoed several Senate bills since the last time that chamber was in session.

I’m sure the guv won’t be taking the Senate Secretary to court, however.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 1:28 pm

Comments

Since its talk like a Pirate day Kelly could compromise, not backdate the enrollment, but require the clerk to walk the plank….or maybe a good keelhauling under a riverboat casino

Comment by Ghost Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 1:32 pm
This has been a ground breaking year hasn’t it. Now I expect one of these committees of the whole every month. They’re taking the rarity away from it.

Comment by Levois Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 1:32 pm
I wonder if anyone in the Governor’s office noticed that the Senate Secretary didn’t read any vetoes into the record this week.

Comment by Old Elephant Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 2:05 pm
The Senate can’t read them in until after the House takes action.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 2:06 pm
For a little perspective on our troubles, you might want to check out these stories about budget battles going on in Michigan and Georgia:

http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=224700

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070918/NEWS06/70918074/1008

The story about intra-party squabbling in Georgia sounds almost word-for-word as if it could have been written here, except in their case it’s Republicans who can’t get their act together.
Also, the reader comments on the Michigan story give you an idea of what people might be saying today about Blago if he were female, or about JBT had she won (aside from the fact that JBT would not have had an Office of the First Gentleman).

Comment by Lainer Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 2:13 pm
Rich, The Senate could have (should have?) read in Senate Bills that were vetoed.

Comment by Madame Defarge Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 2:16 pm
Madagin’s Committee of the Whole allows ALL Representatives to participate in the process. Jones should follow suit when he gets the AVs Bill and allow full senate participation in sustaining or over riding. Dictator style leadership is anathema to the democratic process. Good job, Mr. Speaker!

Comment by A Citizen Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 2:17 pm
Rich: The Senate Secretary could read in Senate bills vetoed or amendatorily vetoed by the Governor, right? Maybe the Governor hasn’t done that to any Senate Bills?

Comment by General Assembly Watcher Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 2:19 pm
Constitution…

===The house to which a bill is returned shall
immediately enter the Governor’s objections upon its journal. ===

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 2:19 pm
OK. Slow today. Now I get ya. lol. Let me check.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 2:20 pm
Committee of the Whole will be meeting on Monday, October 1st

Comment by KIR Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 2:22 pm
By my count, the Governor amendatorily vetoed 14 Senate bills.

Comment by anon Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 2:29 pm
arrrr tighten the bung hole me fellars as the real Pirates swing back to port.

By the way Rich thanks for the pirate link. I had no idea that the hole on a wooden cask was called a “bung hole.” Interesting

Comment by Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 2:35 pm
I don’t know if this has been brought up in the past, but as I understand it, Madigan’s assertion is that nothing (?has to be/must be/should be?) entered until the House convenes in a regularly scheduled session. The Sept. 4 session was a “special” session; therefore, the vetoes were not logged. If the Senate is following the same rule…

Comment by Pot calling kettle Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 2:53 pm
If Sept 4 was a “special session” to deal with only mass transit, then why did the House conduct other legislative business that day, i.e. education bill? Plus, the it takes both the Prez and the Speaker to call a one-day session, which is why the Speaker called it a one-day session, further making the Gov’s case that the House was ready to conduct other business.

Comment by KiR Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 3:14 pm
ooops, must have had too much whisky for TLAP Day… I meant to say it takes both House and Senate to call a special session, which is why the Speaker called it a one-day session

Comment by KiR Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 3:17 pm
how ironic it is when the governor cuts funding for hiv/aids out of the budget, and then announces that he issuing grants to the same causes.

Comment by budget watcher Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 3:30 pm
- budget watcher -
Reminds me of that old cartoon character “Ricochet Rabbit” Bing Bing Boing!

Comment by A Citizen Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 3:46 pm
Speaking of Slick Willie Legal Team, I wonder what the pice tag on this little ditty will be:
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich is dropping a case against two state workers he once said was an example of how he fights corruption.

The administration will not appeal a ruling that put the pair back on the payroll in August.

And neither Blagojevich aides nor those of Attorney General Lisa Madigan will explain why.

That means Dawn DeFraties (dih-FRAY’-teez) and Michael Casey will keep their jobs and more than $200,000 in back pay.

The two were fired in April 2006 when the administration accused them of manipulating the process for hiring state employees with political connections. Blagojevich said he turned over evidence to federal officials who have been investigating his employment procedures.

Comment by GettingJonesed Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 3:49 pm
Has anyone looked at past years to see when vetoes were recorded. I would think that precedent might be key to knowing when something has to be logged in.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 4:04 pm
About time he gave up trying to fire those two…he;s filed so many lawsuits he’ll be in the courtroom more than the governors’ mansion!

Comment by Crimefighter Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 4:18 pm
Crimefighter, “he;s filed so many lawsuits he’ll be in the courtroom more than the governors’ mansion.” with all due respect, that’s not saying much!

Comment by South of I-80 Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 4:46 pm
No need to look at the past. This year is unprecedented.

Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 5:21 pm
P.S. For the lack of a better place to mention it. Congratulations to the CMS 2. They’re now free and clear. Another win for Carl Draper!

Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 5:23 pm
Question on the CMS2: If the state keeps up the battle, would that make them liable for Draper’s fees? Or, are they already on the hook for the fees now?

Comment by Cat Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 5:28 pm
Cat - Springfield radio has reported that the state has dropped the appeal. Unfortunately, the CMS 2 will not get attorney’s fees.

Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 5:31 pm
- Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr -

And appropriately enough the object placed into the bung hole is called a bung. To get it tight I guess you have to bang the bung.

Did you know that the dent in the bottom of a champagne bottle is called a “punt?”

Comment by Papa Legba Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 5:34 pm
- Papa Legba -
Okay, enough for today, my brain is now full. Tomorrow I will have more room. Thanks

Comment by A Citizen Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 5:41 pm
If I had been put up as scapegoats as Dawn and Michael have I would sue Blagojevich for defamation. I would stipulate that it come out of his personal bank account and not taxpayer funds.

Comment by Downstater Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 5:41 pm
- Downstater -
Lisa Madagin turned ALL of the case material over to the Feds. I would expect they will make proper use of the information!

Comment by A Citizen Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 5:45 pm
KiR at 3:14 — Although the House called in all the Special Sessions (with a capital “s”) all the work took place in a regular session, which was a special session (lower case “s”) simply because the House wasn’t in during the regular spring or veto session.

Comment by It's Just Me Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 5:49 pm
Anyone notice Tom Cross is saing 3 casinos “too aggressive” for him and his mates. Sounds like Davey Jones locker for this Chapin Rose special. Yeah, did anyone notice Clunky Chief Chapin be da sponsor of the Hendon Express. Nice selection Hollywood. Sounds like all hands are back to Square One 1 or on TLAP Day still at the dock

Comment by GettingJonesed Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 6:10 pm
I was perusing the bond authorization bill (SB 785) and noticed something a bit shady. Toward the end of page 18 (sec 4.c.) it shows nearly $1.6 billion for “the development and improvement of educational, scientific … AND THE EXPANSION OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES FOR ALL CITIZENS OF ILLINOIS, including: … [a bunch of worthy items that actually have to do with capital development]”.

I’m new to the game, but it sure looks like a back door that Jones put in for his bud Rod to take out loans to expand his health care.

Comment by Newb Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 8:42 pm
Ummm, the capital projects bill (SB 1110) totals a little over $5.4 billion; yet the bond authorization bill (to pay for the capital projects) is for over $44 billion! What’s up with that? Perhaps the extra is to pay off old bonds much like someone would transfer debt from one visa to a new visa?

Comment by Newb Wednesday, Sep 19, 07 @ 9:01 pm
the $5.4 as I read in the papers this morning is for one year’s worth of the plan

since so many repubs voted for the bill, that means Watson was for it and its contents so I wouldn’t spin this as a “jones” plan or “blago” plan

Comment by your answer Thursday, Sep 20, 07 @ 7:21 am
thank godness they were able to give a special slice to Chicago State…2% of the 1st new boat get deposited into the CSU “world traveler fund”…mean education generally get zip…Nice work…Pate would be proud.

Comment by GettingJonesed Thursday, Sep 20, 07 @ 8:01 am
To Newb
Keep doing whatever you do, but stop analyzing these bills. You are way off on both of your observations about the infrastructure bills.

Comment by staffgrl Thursday, Sep 20, 07 @ 8:20 am
It’s Just Me… If you read my remarks, you would understand that I was clarifying the point about regular session and Special Session per another comment not asking a question myself. Thanks Captain Grammatical!

Comment by KiR Thursday, Sep 20, 07 @ 8:20 am
Chicago State is a good school. The Chicago State part was already in law. It was not added as part of the plan.

Comment by staffgrl Thursday, Sep 20, 07 @ 8:22 am