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Question of the day

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Illinois

Let’s assume for argument’s sake that everything goes as planned and a new state budget is passed by both chambers today.

Question: Do you think Gov. Blagojevich will veto the entire budget, which would necessitate an overtime session?

Or, do you think he will just reduce and line item various parts of the budget, which wouldn’t have to dealt with until the November veto session?

Explain.

posted by Rich Miller
Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 8:00 am

Comments

since he does not want to face impeachment he probably won’t be too cute

Comment by Capital Bill Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 8:37 am
The entire budget is a sham. It is so out of whack that either the governor has to use the line item veto or run a deficit. I think he will use the line item and not veto the entire thing. I think he will criticize the House Dems for “pork” spending and make some cuts, but he won’t be as vocal this year. He knows better than go nose to nose with Madigan. It seems that the speaker is almost calling him out and trying to pick a fight.

The Obama factor is in play. The Dems want to shut this session down until after Novemeber and then they can come back and clean up the mess. This is total and complete cowardice. Voters should demand that their elected officials do the job right the 1st time. Look for a modest income tax increase to be brought up after November to pay the bills.

The wild card in this mess is Rezko. If he is convicted and rolls on Rod then everything is up for grabs and chaos will ensue. Grab someone popcorn and enjoy the show……..

Comment by southern illinoisan Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 8:39 am
Well- the answer is evident. Which option is *best* for his needs? (Not the state’s needs, but his needs). Does he blame the legislature (in this case, finally, he should be able to make the case for the leaders NOT doing their job), and make enough headlines to hopefully take his corrupt administration and Rezko off of the front page? Or does he do the *right* thing, and forge a compromise, with everyone involved in the process.

I guess he takes the easy way and blames the Bush administration- no wait, he has done that already. So, he blames the Republicans…no, can’t do that.

He once again blames the military (you know, the “drunken sailers”)- and comes up with more bogus revenue streams that can’t possibly work to supposenly balance the budget. He goes on the offensive, and leads the state into further debt. He gets the Senate President Jones on his side, when he agrees to throw more public money to his various relatives, and tries to bribe various other Democrats with our public dollars.

Sigh…can someone please explain how this corrupt administration AND democratic legislative leaders can vote themselves a pay raise of nearly 12% AND attempt to give the unions a 1/2% pay raise?

Comment by Roy Slade Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 8:41 am
He’s too power-hungry not to exercise some power, so he’ll line-item some things. And since he has a history of making stupid political moves, he’ll probably continue that legacy by vetoing some things that will make him more likely to be impeached, not less.

Comment by Thomas Westgard Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 8:48 am
He should just sign it and go home. Let the GA clean up its own mess sometime after the first of the year. There should be a few repub lame ducks that will cooperate if persuaded in the right way.

Comment by Bill Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 8:57 am
Maybe we are giving him too much credit for thinking this through. He’s a campaigner, not a policy guy after all, and campaigners live in the immediate present. Maybe the predictions are wrong and revenues will rise, and the state will be awash in cash. Anyway, like Scarlett O’Hara, he can worry about that tomorrow.

Don’t like it? We elected him….twice!

Comment by Cassandra Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 9:03 am
“Capital Bill”,

So Speaker Madigan is threatening impeachment if the Governor vetoes the budget?

That’s the news of the day if I ever heard it.

Comment by problem Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 9:10 am
I think he’ll veto the whole thing. His ego won’t allow him to give credit to anyone else for anything. He lives on controversy and by the media. Good facetime or bad facetime, it’s all good.

Comment by Disgusted Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 9:43 am
i won’t believe that they will pass a budget plan until they do. i’d be shocked if the governor doesn’t do something to draw all the attention to himself — and that probably means a veto, no matter when they pass the thing. this governor is a bad fit for our current legislative body with it’s (well, the speaker’s) prerogatives. as a result, rod’s kind of like a bull in a china shop.

Comment by bored now Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 9:46 am
I think he’ll make a few modifications to cater to his pet interests, take credit for everything, then sign it. Later when things get really upside down he’ll criticize everyone else and take the blame for none of it.

Comment by IDOT Lifer Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 9:47 am
There’s one other issue you’ve left out, probably for simplicity’s sake: if there is some type of veto, whether standard veto, line item reduction or AV, will he allow for the veto session to take place in its traditional November time slot which would fall after the elections, or does the issue from last year resurface where the veto session have to take place sooner due to the number of days issue. With the litigious approach the Goveror’s office has taken toward the HDems maybe someone should cornhole Quinlan tonight and ask him.

Comment by Anon Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 9:48 am
Problem:
There are no threats, but a lot of House members have their draft resolutions ready to go if they are forced to use up another summer due to Blagoof. Most belief Blagoof’s exit strategy will be handled USDOJ.

Comment by Capital Bill Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 9:50 am
I like that theory, “Capital”…

House Dems can’t pass revenue to pay for all their spending, and so they will impeach the Governor to get a Governor who will pass an unconstitutional budget. That makes total sense.

Why not instead have the House Dems learn something about spending restraint from the House Rs and Leader Cross. They have their heads on straight when it comes to this budget…

Comment by jj Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 9:59 am
So, while everyone else in the capitol is working and meeting to get budgets done, Madigan is spending all this time navel-gazing, leading a negative pr campaign, and helping members draft impeachment resolutions?

Wow, he is the man! Checkmate!

Comment by problem Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 10:09 am
I also might add that Leader Cross is the only House *leader* working with everybody to get these budgets done.

If Madigan hates being Speaker so much, he can always step down and let Cross be in charge.

Comment by jj Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 10:11 am
I think it’s pretty safe to say that he likes where he’s at.

Comment by Kevin Fanning Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 10:14 am
It is good to see Cross’ kinfolk, problem and jj, are up early praising LeaderCross’ skillful effort to shrink the GOP caucus as a run-up to his statewide campaign.
Meeting with everyone, then voting “no” and then giving that blank stare will not be a winning formula.
But it does make it easier on all nonGOPs

Comment by Capital Bill Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 10:31 am
Congrats again on the huge dem pickup in the House in the Democratic sweep of 2006.

Another Madigan success story.

Comment by jj Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 11:07 am
I think many people would agree - “nothing would surprise me”. Complete veto, line item veto, GA negotiates a “bare bones” balanced budget and Gov signs it, GA negotiates a smoke and mirrors budget that is balanced on paper but really not, and Gov signs it. Any other possibilities? The one thing predictable about this environment is its unpredictability, and things flying in from left field at the last minute.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 11:18 am
Whatever frame of mind Blago is in at the moment will dictate what he will do with the budget. If he thinks he can get some GOOD “positive” press from a line item veto, he will do it. If he thinks it will BETTER his position to veto the whole thing, he will do it. If he thinks the BEST publicity for him will come from OT sessions (which BTW will pad the pockets of the legislators and hopefully buy off impeachment), he will do that. There is no sensible rationale to what Blago does. He lives in the moment.

Comment by Little Egypt Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 11:30 am
He’s mercurial, impossible to predict.

My guess is he waits a week or two for the Rezko verdict. If Rezko goes down hard, he could try to play nice and meekly use his amendatory veto in a (I think fruitless) effort to avoid impeachment. If Rezko gets off easy, he’s reborn and lashes out with a full veto.

I can envision another scenario where Rezko goes down hard and he vetoes the whole budget. He could then paint any impeachment effort as political payback.

Anyone really know this guy and how he thinks? Who does he listen to?

Comment by wordslinger Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 12:03 pm
My guess is Patti wears the pants in the family and he listens to her, no matter how ill-advised she may be.

Comment by Little Egypt Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 12:09 pm
There will be a budget passed, and Blagojevich will line item a few things. This makes the most sense for him. It lets him show that he is involved and gives him a chance to flex some muscle, but at the same time it spares him another overtime session of finger pointing and bad press.

Blago may be a poor leader but he isnt so stupid as to want to go through another two or three months of gridlock. The last thing he needs is a guilt verdict for Rezko while he is mired in a budget quagmire.

Comment by Speaking at Will Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 12:19 pm
“Makes the most sense” is the key here. It would make the most sense to line item a few things to punish people and balance the budget at the same time. But that’s not how Gov. B has worked in the past. I expect something completely off-the-wall.

For example: Dramit rewriting and rule-making for some “new” program that no one has heard of.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 12:47 pm
I have been taught a good “rule-of-thumb” in trying to predict the behavior of this Governor.

First, you put yourself in the situation the Governor is in and determine how you would resolve the issue in the most rational, responsible manner possible.

Then, you can bank that this Governor will do the complete opposite of what you would do.

Again, not my concept, but seems to work every time.

Comment by unclesam Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 1:04 pm
lol exactly. But then you have to spice it up a little too. Maybe a quote from a Shakespearean play that he can’t remember, an obscure baseball fact, or a cliche like “turning lemons into lemonade.”

Comment by Kevin Fanning Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 1:11 pm
Don’t know, don’t care.

Comment by Lifer Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 1:18 pm
Regardless of what this gov does, it will be done with much fanfare and assurances that Rod knows best. He never has before, but that never stopped him.

Comment by Belle Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 1:20 pm
Probably…why not in keeping with past performance. He doesn’t like it when he can’t get his way & keeps him on the front page.

Comment by annon Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 1:36 pm
It will also involve cuts to the DNR.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 1:46 pm
..and assurances that he’s committed to “ferret out wrongdoing”..

Comment by Arthur Andersen Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 1:53 pm
jj:
the madigan success continued in ‘07 too!
he was picking up Ds without needing elections
drip drip LeaderCross slips away

Comment by Capital Bill Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 1:54 pm
Veto the entire thing, that will show Durbin and the others…. Keep a bunch of folks who could campaign and say nice things about Obama and his time in the state senate in Springfield.

Rod as guardian of the public purse, has a nice ring to it.

Comment by OneMan Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 2:07 pm
What does the Rezko trial have to do with anyhting? As always, Gov. Blagojevich will do whatever he feels is in the best interests of the citizens of Illinois. He knows how the obstructionist House Dems work. He knows that the Speaker will stop at nothing to make him look bad regardless of what happens to the great state of Illinois. Fortunately, he is imbued with the fortitude and selflessness necessary to make the right decisions. He will, in fact,try to make lemonade out of this unconstitutional, unbalanced budget. If he has the opportunity to hurt some of his adversaries in the process so much the better.
Rezko has nothing to do with the Governor anymore. If he has done something wrong he should be punished and will be if the feds can find any real evidence.
The Governor is not involved with his trial and has not been accused of any wrongdoing.
He doesn’t tolerate corruption in his administration.

Gov. Blagojevich

Comment by Bill Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 2:09 pm
Bill: Better take a look at Holland’s findings in audits before you repeat your last statement.

Comment by Disgusted Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 2:16 pm
Sorry, I got cut off…
Gov. Blagojevich will do whatever he can to rise above the politics of personalalities, the name calling, the obstructionism, and the games fostered by the Speaker. We, in Illinois, have important work to do in the area of health care, a jobs bill, education funding reform, etc..We are fortunate to have a leader like Rod Blagojevich to get us through these trying times.
With his trusty sidekick, President Jones, Rod will again rescue us from the shenanigans of the House.

Comment by Bill Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 2:17 pm
Is jj the new Bill, only with an allegiance to Cross?

Only the Senate President can stop the Governor from doing something crazy like vetoing the whole thing.

Comment by Truth Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 2:48 pm
The Gov is the embodiment of all that is bad about Illinois politics.

While he claims to stand for lower taxes, he has done nothing to work with the legislature to ‘grow’ our way out of this budget mess. He further goes out of his way to add flashy and expensive programs without any hint of any legitimate funding sources.

His leadership style appears to be consistent with that of a dictator or despot as opposed to a democratically elected leader.

There will not likely be a complete veto, but there will likely be “budget improvements” consisting of fund sweeps and questionable reallocation of funds.

The losers of course will be the residents of Illinois

Comment by plutocrat03 Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 3:07 pm
I’d like to be able to track the main budget bill but I know that at this stage of the game existing bills often get gutted and rewritten via last-minute amendments, which makes them harder to track by their original title.
Anyone know what bill number is, or is going to become, the budget that was said to have been agreed upon by the Democrats? Of course that may be something God Himself doesn’t know yet

Comment by Bookworm Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 3:17 pm
Hey Bill, buddy you have a great weekend and have a drink or two. Sounds like you need it.

Comment by Little Egypt Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 3:19 pm
Something I missed or no one has mentioned - has OMB been involved at all in the process of writing these bills?

Comment by Mr. Wizard Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 3:21 pm
It’s SB 1102 — they’re debating it now in the House.

Comment by Bookworm Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 3:56 pm
LE,
Thanks I will. You do the same.

Comment by Bill Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 4:50 pm
My guess is that Blago/Ego will use the line item veto and claim he is our savior and made lemonaide out of lemons or how ever the “Spin Sisters” spin it.

Comment by Dan S, a Voter & Cubs Fan Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 5:31 pm
Bill: Thanks for blogging here, you are completely wrong in my opinion, but at least it gives me an insight into how the other side thinks.

Comment by Speaking at Will Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 6:22 pm
Hey Bill, AA might tip one or two with you if this doesn’t go past my bedtime.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Saturday, May 31, 08 @ 7:04 pm