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This just in… * Cross: Maybe January (or not) * Biz groups file suit ***

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* 12:20 pm - For the second day in a row Speaker Madigan did not attend the leaders meeting in Chicago. A spokesman said no invitation was offered (the same reason was given yesterday).

Asked if Madigan would meet with House GOP Leader Cross and Senate GOP Leader Watson today, as he did yesterday after the leaders meeting, the spokesman said he believed that staff was still working on answering questions raised by yesterday’s meeting.

* 12:34 pm - It’s always something.

Yesterday, the governor’s office promised a session next week to deal with the transit crisis, gaming, capital bill, etc. Trouble is, the National Black Caucus of State Legislators is holding its annual conference starting next Wednesday in Little Rock, Arkansas.

*** 3:00 pm *** No surprise. More bad news…

House Republican leader Tom Cross acknowledges it could take until January to work out a gambling expansion plan that would pay for a statewide construction program and pave the way for a mass-transit bailout.

Cross says he’d like something to happen next week but he can’t promise anything will. He blames the political climate and personalities involved.

House Speaker Michael Madigan didn’t attend a second day of meetings with Governor Rod Blagojevich and the three other legislative leaders to break a logjam that has transit riders facing threatened service cuts and fare increases.

…Adding… After checking around, I think the context of Cross’ statement is a bit different than what was presented in the AP story. Apparently, Cross was asked by a TV reporter what was to prevent Speaker Madigan from dragging the entire process into January, and Cross said he could see that happening. He wasn’t actually predicting a January session.

* 3:50 pm - Oof…

llinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias was accused today of evading questions and playing a “game” about what he knew about a $1 million bank loan he gave in 2002 to an 86-year-old “feeble-minded” woman.

Giannoulias was a loan officer at his family’s Broadway Bank when he agreed to give the loan to Loren Billings, who once ran the city’s Museum of Holography. She had applied for the loan with co-signers who had a history of fraud.

Her family says that, within 24 hours of Giannoulias cutting Billings a check, more than half of it was made out to a firm associated with the co-signers, GnXpert Neural Technologies.

Under questioning before Cook County Judge Sophia Hall, Giannoulias repeatedly said “I don’t recall” or “I just don’t remember” details of the loan transaction because it was so long ago.

Giannoulias was repeatedly asked whether it was “prudent” to give a loan — with a $9,845 monthly payment due — to a woman with a monthly income reported on loan documents to be around $10,000. Finally, attorney Peter King asked Hall to order Giannoulias to answer.

*** 4:15 pm *** Biz groups file suit…

A coaltion of business groups filed suit in Sangamon County Tuesday to stop Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s planned expansion of health care programs.

The Illinois Coalition of Jobs, Growth and Prosperity said the state’s decision to expand health care programs without the approval fo the General Assembly is unconstitutional. It wants the courts to halt the expansion and to prohibt Comptroller Dan Hynes from paying any bills connected with the expansion.

Download the lawsuit here.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 12:22 pm

Comments

If the Governor does call a special session for next week, do the legislators have to attend, or can they honor previous committments (such as attending the NCSBL)? I don’t think the Governor would be upset if they honored a previous committment, do you?

Comment by unclesam Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 12:42 pm
Sorry… meant NBCSL

Comment by unclesam Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 12:44 pm
delay delay delay….

Comment by GoBearsss Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 12:46 pm
Do we know how many, or which, of our legislators are going? Enough to make a dent in the necessary quorum or other votes?

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 12:49 pm
Do they have hockey in Little Rock, Arkansas?

Comment by Wacker Drive Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 12:59 pm
I thought Gobearsss was shouting for Daley to intervene

I see the gov is back to the well proven startegy of conciliation and getting Madigans support by attacking him. Its like waatching a child repeatedly stick their hand into an open falme because they cant figure out the fire is burning them.

Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 1:03 pm
I don’t see how a junket to get together with other legislators of the same ethnicity from OTHER STATES can take precedence over dire business at home, so … BTW, I wonder if our tax money is paying for this little trip???

Comment by Snidely Whiplash Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 1:05 pm
They could have committee hearings late Sunday and then convene on Mon & Tues. Even if they spill into early Weds. they could still make their conference. If this really has wings it should be treated like the end of session usually is and just cram it all in as fast as they can.

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 1:06 pm
===If this really has wings===

Where would you get that idea? I wouldn’t hold my breath, if I were you.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 1:13 pm
Special sessions in the middle of national conferences, special elections on Saturdays, special hockey games on the evening of the vote on a crucial bill… this Governor is truly special. Perhaps we could trade his airplane for one of those little buses complete with an I-Pass for when he has to travel outside of his zip code and onto those big expressways.

Comment by DC Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 1:17 pm
I’ll do that, too. But I don’t know if it will help.

Daley! Daley! Daley!

Comment by GoBearsss Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 1:24 pm
Are we trying to summon Daley now? He seems to want to stay at arms length!

Comment by Levois Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 1:35 pm
- Levois -
“Are we trying to summon Daley now?”
No! They are trying to “channel” da mare of old - but without the aid of a psychic.

Comment by A Citizen Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 1:45 pm
Hockey is the American Past Time
Conferences are not
Just don’t vote during the Rose Bowl ’cause Wymaramabama has the plush mortgage brokers jet reay to fly

Comment by DumberThanYouThink Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 1:59 pm
They will probably accomplish a lot more at the conference in Little Rock than at a special session (considering what has been accomplished at previous special sessions).

Nothing significant will happen until Gov. B concedes some decision-making power and the legislators feel that they can trust his word. Since is highly unlikely this will ever happen, it is pointless to have a special session and pointless for anyone to attend. (Boy does that sound depressing!)

Cheer up and design a calendar: http://www.despair.com/despair.html

Comment by Pot calling kettle Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 2:08 pm
Well if we need to summon Daley, what is the incantation?

Boil, boil, graft and plunder…….. which of the house members can be dumber?

Comment by plutocrat03 Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 2:33 pm
===CHICAGO (AP) - House Republican leader Tom Cross acknowledges it could take until January to work out a gambling expansion plan that would pay for a statewide construction program and pave the way for a mass-transit bailout===

Looks like cross is ready to head out for x-mas break. So much for the govs reference to a session next week to git er done(Redneckaphis added).

Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 2:58 pm
Doesn’t the transit holdover money currently apportioned run out sometime in mid-January. I would expect that to be the real deadline in everybody’s head, whatever they are saying to the press.

Time for holiday parties and Christmas shopping. After all, our legislators, thanks to the huge raise we gave them, have a lot more to spend on Xmas this year.

Comment by Cassandra Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 3:08 pm
When Rod goes to a hockey game everybody has a fit. So where is the outrage when Madigan blows off two “leaders meetings”? What exactly did he have to do that was more important than keeping the trains and busses running? X-mas shopping? a bulls game? This guy has tantrum after tantrum and nobody on here says boo. I know that you have to work down there but grow a pair for once and point the finger of blame where it really belongs. C’mon try it. Little Mike can’t hurt you.

Comment by Bill Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 3:53 pm
Oof is right. I had just started giving Alexi the benefit of the doubt. Talking and listening to him, I started to think maybe all the stuff brought up during the election had more to do with his late father than anything to do with him. I know he has a good memory because I only met him a few times but he easily remembers conversations he had with me. Maybe call it sloppy but this doesn’t smell right.

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 4:00 pm
Heads up everybody… business group coalition led by Ron Gidwitz just filed suit in Sangamon County to stop the healthcare emergency expansion. Story posted less than an hour ago on sj-r.com.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 4:11 pm
Giannoulias has discovered that he can’t cover all his fingerprints.

This story is not a surprise to those of us who are cynical enough to see that a 30 year old nobody just doesn’t become State Treasurer overnight without some goings on we weren’t privvy to.

I wouldn’t be surprised to hear more stories either.

Alexi just doesn’t pass my “smell” test - never has.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 4:13 pm
It looks like Sneed was right. The Gidwitz/Madigan lawsuit will end up getting thrown out but not before it costs everybody a lot of money.

Comment by Bill Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 4:14 pm
About time some lawsuits were filed against King Rodrick the First…wish people would had shown some guts and nominated Gidwitz over Judy Baar.

Comment by Crimefighter Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 4:19 pm
It was just a matter of time before the media goes after the one democrat that has remained above the frey during this whole mess. Alexi has done a great job thus far. I guess it was only a matter of time before the media tried to drag him down.

I’m no banker, so I wouldnt understand the specifics of this story if I tried. However, I know that I’ve forgotten the details of many job related transactions in my work history. It doenst mean that I’m hiding anything — it just means that so many of these experiences just blend together after time.

Give this guy a break and dont drag him down. He is the one real bright spot in Illinois politics and has a hell of a future.

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 4:28 pm
===It was just a matter of time before the media goes after the one democrat===

Anon, the reporter was just reporting on a court case. How could you possibly blame that on “the media”?

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 4:39 pm
Bill…let’s not forget who cost taxpayers MILLIONS of dollars in…

- unused flu shots
- court costs for a clearly unconstitutional fight against video games
- court costs for a witch hunt against 2 state employees for hiring

This is a matter of LAW. The Governor cannot make rules and spend money WITHOUT approval from the General Assembly. In much the same fashion, the legislature cannot approve a program or pass a budget without the Governor’s approval (absent an override).

I know the Governor proudly got a “C” in constitutional law but one would hope that he and his advisors could govern a bit better.

Comment by 4% to Bill.. Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 4:55 pm
Actually - the Governor can make rules and spend money without approval of the General Assembly. He can’t make laws and appropriate money, but he can make rules and spend money.

Comment by GoBearsss Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 5:09 pm
True, but he can’t implement emergency rules without JCAR’s approval.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 5:11 pm
And he can’t spend most money without an appropriation.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 5:12 pm
it gets interesting seeing which bills they need to strip out and replace language. check out the bills just assigned to the house gaming committee. this afternoon.

Comment by anon Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 5:14 pm
Rich - thanks for the assist on my incorrect terminology.

My point is simply that this is not a kingdom - its a democracy. It involves give and take between the executive and legislative branches.

I am not a rabid Blagojevich hater. For one, I think that recall elections are goofy and inappropriate. And despite my dislike of Blagojevich, he was elected by the people and should serve his term WITHIN the limits of the law.

Comment by 4% Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 5:20 pm
“he can’t implement emergency rules without JCAR’s approval”

I think that, essentially, is the question of the lawsuit.

Comment by GoBearsss Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 5:25 pm
Actually, it’s a bill he signed into law.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 5:26 pm
And, I think I have to correct you Rich. JCAR doesn’t “approve” rules. They just block them if they pose a threat to the public.

Comment by GoBearsss Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 5:26 pm
OK, he can’t do it if JCAR blocks him.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 5:28 pm
Well finally there are two guys in this state with some testiculars (Gidwitz and Baise) who will take on King Rod. And Bill, I don’t care if Madigan is behind it and neither will any of the other 80% of the voters who are dissatisfied with Blago.

Comment by Just My Opinion Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 5:39 pm
I think an argument can be made that individual decisions by JCAR can be challenged without challenging JCAR as a whole - at least that is the argument I would make.

I wouldn’t know how to make that argument, but it might start by saying that the administration clearly had been given authority by the legislature to make these administrative changes, and JCAR overstepped their bounds by blocking them.

That is what I have been arguing for a while now - that I think JCAR can block rules if they pose a threat to the public, but not just willy-nilly.

I know people here disagree with me, but I hope we can disagree peacefully - unlike other people we know.

Comment by GoBearsss Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 6:06 pm
My reading of the statute is that JCAR has the authority to block emergency rules if there’s no reasonable belief that an emergency exists. The term “reasonable” is actually in the provision of the law that defines emergency.

JCAR, under current state statute, is also allowed to block rules that are deemed inconsistent with legislative intent of public acts.

Now, having said that, the FY2008 appropriations act for HFS allows appropriations to be used for medical assistance covered under the Illinois Public Aid Code. If the Governor intends to expand healthcare eligibility using the discretion he’s allowed under the Illinois Public Aid Code, then I think he’s legally within his executive authority to do so. It’s also not clear in the Public AID code whether he needs a rule to do the eligiblity expansion.

Comment by Budget Watcher Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 6:29 pm
Looks like has finally revealed that he is actually a SpinSister and not just one of their boy toys. Doubt Baise and Gidwitz needed Madigan to figure this one out. But hey stick with Sneed
See if she can’t make it to the RoseBowl with us on the Wymaramabama Jet. So far our record on law suits is perfecto. Oh-fer-da-Age of Blaggo.

Comment by DumberThanYouThink Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 6:34 pm
Budget Watcher - I do have to tell you that I have enjoyed our back-and-forth on this over the past few weeks.

Comment by GoBearsss Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 6:37 pm
While they may not need a rule to do the eligibility expansion, do they need a rule to set premium amounts?

Comment by GoBearsss Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 6:38 pm
The courts just might junk JCAR…Where in the Illinois constitition does JCAR have rule making authority? Madigan is asking his freinds to sue because he knows he won’t win this fight…The Governor actually might have this one right!!!! I think there was a similar challenge to the executive branch on the federal level.

Comment by In My View Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 6:41 pm
I would assume admin rules would be used to define recipient premiums, deductibles, co-pays, etc.

In case there’s any uncertainty, I should probably clarify my thoughts on the Governor’s intentions to unilaterally expand healthcare….which is that, while he may be within his rights to do so, it is incredibly irresponsible, arrogant, and fiscally dangerous to so without explicit approval of the General Assembly. We are probably just weeks away from a public acknowledgement that this year’s budget is seriously short-funded, even if the additional healthcare expansion is blocked. The next 4-6 months promise to be filled with more of the same bitterness and acrimony.

Comment by Budget Watcher Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 7:03 pm
Didn’t someone else — a lawyer friend of Tom Roeser, if I’m not mistaken — file a similar lawsuit (over the healthcare plan) in Cook County a couple of weeks ago, to far less fanfare? What will happen to that one?

Comment by Bookworm Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 7:14 pm
Folks, the gov proposed a funding plan and a program last Spring, and it failed in the GA. Now he has proposed another one, with a funding proposal, and it’s getting no traction. I think it’s fair to ask the naysayers (and they are legion), what is their program for expanding access to health insurance and their funding plan, or do they just believe there is no need to do anything in this area.

Comment by steve schnorf Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 7:20 pm
- steve schnorf -
“…or do they just believe there is no need to do anything in this area. …”
Finally, Steve, I think you have captured the essence of it. There is NO real need, especially for the middle class and wealthier. This is for the benefit of the profits of the medical communities’ profits only.

Comment by A Citizen Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 7:33 pm
Steve, I don’t believe a healthcare plan such as Blago is wanting should be instituted state by state. This should be addressed at the Federal level thus enacting a program for all states at the same time. I would like to see some kind of expanded health insurance that is truly for those who cannot afford it - not for those making $80K a year; however, there are also schools with physical plants that need upgraded, the State should increase their funding per pupil to the schools, the State should come current with the payments to the medical providers they are so grossly behind on, we need infrastructure rebuilt all over this state, the horribly underfunded pension system, roads, bridges, State Police need new vehicles, and most of all, we need a new governor. My mother used to say “you can’t get blood out of a turnip”. This State cannot keep going to the public well without a major revolt on the part of the voters. Should we expect an eventual 90% tax rate such as the UK has? Where does it stop? There will always be a need for new programs but just how do we pay for them when we have so much that has been put on the back burner for so long and desperately needs to be moved to the front of the stove? Perhaps we should put some plain ol’ taxpayers in charge of the State funds and see if they do a better job with them than the politicians. As for the governor’s funding proposal, I’m not aware he has a legitimate one other than vetoing things like half of a bridge and other ludicrous cuts he made so he can (illegally?, unconstitutionally?) divert those funds to pay for his healthcare plan.

Comment by Little Egypt Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 7:36 pm
Steve,
Perhaps the recent failure of a Democratic controlled Congress to retain SCHIP coverage for parents tells us that we’re not ready for more government sponsored healthcare entitlements. I know you think we’re collectively past that tipping point, but I would have to disagree.

Comment by Budget Watcher Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 7:50 pm
Giannoulias never seemed right to me either. But…those Billboards with him and Jesse Jackson Jr. strategically placed only in the inner city and not the suburbs sure worked for his primary win. I never seen so many on the South Side. He got an overwhelming plurality in the African American Community, and there is nothing wrong with that. This is his base now and in the future. As Jesse Jr., and Barack Obama goes, so does Alexi.

Comment by anon Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 9:12 pm
I think there is definitely a need out there.

Most people want to be able to get good health care at a fair price. The market has failed to deliver good health care at a fair price, because when their costs exceed their gains, insurance companies just simply stop covering you.

I think the Governor has taken the right approach at this - it is the same approach all the Dem candidates for president are taking - government can step up and allow every single person to get access to health care at a price that is affordable for them. Everybody pays, but you pay based on your income. At the same time, government can do tangible things that can also help control skyrocketing costs, so health care is less expensive in general.

In some cases, government has the ability to provide what the public needs and the private market can’t deliver. I think health care is one of those cases.

Look at the Governor’s plan - this is what it is all about. You say that person making $80,000 a year shouldn’t get free health care. I agree. If you look at the plan, you will see that family of 4 will be paying $420/month for that coverage. That ain’t cheap - but it is something they can afford.

Now, I would have much preferred he try and fund it by raising the income tax, or expanding the base of the sales tax, as opposed to the GRT. But imposing a fee on employers who don’t provide coverage to their employees sounds OK to me.

And, I will tell you right now, this ain’t ever going to happen at the federal level. You may think Illinois is slow, but I this could actually happen in Illinois before my first great-grandkid comes along. Can’t say the same for the federal level.

Comment by JohnR Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 10:25 pm
Budget Watcher - that was Bush and the Republicans.

Their days are numbered in DC.

Comment by JohnR Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 10:26 pm
- JohnR -
So your plan is to invoke the GRT, raise Income Taxes, Sales Taxes, Real Estate/Property Taxes, Fees, etc. and have the gov’t. give everybody everything free. That’s just great! Why should anybody bother participating in society by working, volunteering, donating to causes? Just sit on your fat arse and slurp at the public trough! That lefty lib plan is Idiotic! Wake up to reality and join the fiscally conservative and hard working democrats and republicans. EARN your way through life.

Comment by A Citizen Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 10:49 pm
===Perhaps the recent failure of a Democratic controlled Congress to retain SCHIP coverage===

Um, wasn’t that vetoed by a Republican president?

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 11:10 pm
A Citizen - learn to read.

I said I didn’t like the GRT. I didn’t say I wanted to give anyone anything for free. I didn’t say I wanted to raise property taxes, fees, etc.

I said that I would have been willing to do an income tax increase or an expanded sales tax base to get a comprehensive healthcare plan. Because it is that important.

You need to wake up and realize that there are millions of people out there who work and EARN their way through life, but can’t afford $15,000 / year for health coverage for their family. They could maybe afford $5,000, and are perfectly willing to pay that. Unfortunately, they get nothing from the market right now.

That’s the reality YOU are missing out on.

Comment by JohnR Wednesday, Dec 5, 07 @ 1:42 am
Rich,

Yes, Bush vetoed and the Congress, controlled by Dems, couldn’t muster an override. If we (a collective we) are ready for guaranteed healthcare, continued expanded SCHIP should have been a relatively easy victory. It wasn’t.

Comment by Budget Watcher Wednesday, Dec 5, 07 @ 3:12 am
One final observation, a re-statement from a post I made last week…we had a general election just over a year ago, and the Governor spent a boatload of money to make sure he was re-elected. At no time did he run political ads that mentioned his expansive healthcare initiatives and the intended GRT to pay for it. If his plan was/is a moral imperative, why didn’t we hear of it until post-election? The election could have been a referendum on healthcare.

I anticipated that, after convincing Meeks to reconsider his run for Governor and given Emil Jones’ desire for education funding reform, he’d have made this issue a centerpiece of his post-election agenda. Apparently not….no GRT, no education reform.

Comment by Budget Watcher Wednesday, Dec 5, 07 @ 7:53 am