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* No, it’s not music. What we have here is Reps. Jay Hoffman (D-Collinsville) and Brent Hassert (R-Romeoville) discussing the capital bill, budget negotiations, Rezko, etc. on Fox Chicago Sunday.

There is a spot of “new” news in the video when Rep. Hoffman claims that the governor is willing to make $500 million in budget cuts if the House is willing to pass the capital plan as well as $900 million or so in Fiscal Year ‘09 budgetary funding streams that have already cleared the Senate (special fund sweeps and pension obligation bond).

Both men hammered away at House Speaker Madigan, but neither were ever asked whether the House Republicans would support those two revenue streams. The HGOPs have said before that they were opposed to the funding sources. So, that unasked question is pretty darned important.

Anyway, you really ought to have a look…

[Hat tip: Illinois Review]

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 3:09 pm

Comments

Could these guys be any more transparent. Instead of bilking billions more for their gluttonous pet projects, maybe they should figure how to manage the money they already have. They can bash Madigan all they want but he is right not to approve a capital plan with guys like these salivating all over it. They make my skin crawl.

Comment by Garp Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 3:39 pm
If Patrick Fitzgerald, knowing what he knows now, were in a position to tell the members of the General Assembly whether or not to give the Governor that much money to spend and all those construction contracts to awards, I wonder what he would say.

- WWFD

Comment by What Would Fitz Do ? Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 3:48 pm
Pretty funny shot when Dane Placko starts to ask about the impact of the Rezko decision (go to 4:50 of the video). The question doesn’t seem to be directed at either Jay or Brent but look at how Jay immediately defers to Brent as soon as the name Rezko leaves Dane’s lips.

Comment by Anon Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 3:52 pm
How typical for Blago’s guy Hoffman to end the show by saying, “Glass half empty, huh Jack?” after Jack, the co-host, predicted no action is likely to occur on the operating or capital budget until November.

Just because Jack makes a prediction that many astute observers would agree is based on fact and reality, that does not make him a pessimist. That makes him sane, unlike Hoffman and the rest of the Blago people.

Comment by DeepFriedOnAStick Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 4:19 pm
Too bad they could not ask Brent to square supportv for gambling expansion and the GOP Party platform opposing gambling expansion for capital…me thinks Brent and Statewide Tom may be fibbing.

Comment by DumberThanUThink Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 4:35 pm
How many times did Jay Hoffman say “we”? Who is the mouse in his pocket?

Comment by Mongo Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 6:09 pm
the best of sign of a good compromise is that both parties are not happy with the outcome… so in this situation that means the Gov needs to be open to some type of tax hike AND madigan needs to be open to selling/ leasing state assets

perhaps a scaled down capital plan funded by some formula of cigarette or income tax hike/ leasing of state lottery and or gambling expansion

madigan seems hell bent on waiting out blago so he wont be able to dole out construction contracts…and he has reason to be cautious… there are many allegations of play to play that everyone is aware of and giving a 34billion dollar capital plan to the Gov would be like giving a teenager with 10 speeding tickets a brand new race car…

that being said madigan needs to realize that a capital plan (done with blago proof safeguards) is more important to the state than his dislike for Blago…

simply put - both men need to give a little

will that happen?

of course not! this is illinois

Comment by compromise Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 6:30 pm
Madigan is doing the responsible thing - don’t give guv the purse strings to 34 Billion bucks til guv is severely hobbled. Guv cannot be trusted, period. He has shown NO reason to be trusted from past years actions. What’s changed? Nothing! MM should and will stick to his convictions . . . at least til guv is convicted!

Comment by A Citizen Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 6:37 pm
Madigan is doing a lot of things, but being responsible is not one of them.

Letting our infrastructure waste away, and blocking the State from investing in its future is the most irresponsible thing he could be doing if he considers himself the State’s patriarch.

Comment by problem Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 7:03 pm
- problem -
You do not comprehend reality. It is not MM it is the total lack of guv’s trustworthiness. And I would add, due to his highly questionable circle of “friends” e./g. Rezko, Kelly, etc. that his “Ethics” are not on a solid foundation . . . if he even has any. Bottomline, guv is toast! Lame duck, a has been. A new guv, via resignation, impeachment, conviction will break the impasse. Until then, MM is keeping the dam from breaking and I applaud his performance!

Comment by A Citizen Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 7:19 pm
I think individuals need to wake up. Who is blocking a capital bill, keeping people from going to work, and putting a stop to the movement of bills and state government? Thats right kids SPEAKER MADIGAN. I would take a Speaker Hoffman over Maidgan any day. Wake up democrats! Do the right thing. Pass a capital bill.

Comment by Frat Boy Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 7:40 pm
- Frat Boy -
That is delusional thinking. In your mind MM may not be the solution but guv’s removal from office is. Guv is the real impediment to progress, not MM. Quit wasting my time and move forward with impeachment! This state can ill afford being totally in the hands of crooked and feuding democrats much longer.

Comment by A Citizen Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 8:01 pm
Amen Frat Boy! Too bad we can’t oust Madigan for his complete disregard for anything but his own vindictive agenda. While people are losing homes, while people are out of work, this man kills the capital bill and wants to raise our taxes. He’s completely crossed the line.

Comment by tistophone Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 9:09 pm
- tistophone -
I think if just one more (guv) joined the unemployed all would be well. Let’s give it a try - See if you can get his resignation. Then a Cap Bill will quickly appear - and you know it!

Comment by A Citizen Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 9:33 pm
I am glad a citizen could confirm what we all already knew. Madigan has a vindictive one sided agenda. He will do anything to harm the governor even at the expense of the good people of Illinois. Maybe Mike should step aside and let a true democrat run the house for awhile, one who looks our for the average joe.

Comment by Frat Boy Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 9:53 pm
The Frat Boy is right. We didn’t elect Madigan to run the state. Last time I checked, he was elected to a state rep district. He really needs to put his pettiness aside before more families suffer at his hands.

Comment by Goldfinch Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 10:05 pm
“..the average joe..”
Come on guys - I’m really glad you’re glad but do you honestly believe guv, Mrs. guv, Kelly and Rezko even know the average joe, let alone care what happens to anyone other than themselves? If so, seek help . . . Soon. That 34 billion sure has the smell of bacon though, doesn’t it.

Comment by A Citizen Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 10:08 pm
Oh, for pete’s sake. When you two are done kicking Madigan around, could you start on ol’ Emil. Watching the CBS2 Mike Flannery report this evening I’m already hearing Emil is still whining over his raise and may end up with the usual end of FY state employee paycheck holdup. Yeah, I know you don’t give a rat’s behind if workers get their checks or not, but surely you care of Emil holds the operating budget up whining over his pay raise. And I’m sure while I listening to budget neg. today and CP demand from Rep Hoffman that I didn’t hear anything about last week’s meeting being unproductive and a bunch of finger pointing as Sen. Watson informed us after he left the leaders meeting.

Ya all can thump your chest and scream ‘evil Madigan’ all ya want, but he didn’t cause this mess with Blago. Blago seems to have a gift of causing his own problems. Fair is fair, if you’re gonna kick Madigan around, remember to then kick around the others and lay all the blame out where it goes. I’m tired of hearing one sided spins and spins that are misleading and all in the intentions of getting the public to jump on board without any idea of what they are actually signing on for.

(sorry, Rich, delete at will if I’ve abused my privillage of commenting on this issue)

Comment by Princeville Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 10:20 pm
Gotta love how the gov has gone from calling Illinois First a $12 billion waste of money to saying his $34 billion plan is a “jobs bill.”
Yeah, and we all know who’s getting jobbed.

Sell the lottery and stick the $10 billion into the pensions and use the couple billion in interest you free up to boost school funding each year.

Then raise taxes to pay for the vaunted “Jobs Bill”.

Everyone gets what they want and no one’s happy.
It’s the perfect way.

When lawmakers are all happy, it means taxpayers got screwed.

Comment by Frank Booth Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 10:22 pm
Frank Booth - Legislators turned thumbs down on putting the lottery lease to pensions last year (MAdigan killed that one too).

Comment by JohnR Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 10:41 pm
Seem like the Governor is venting with an alternate personality in the some of the posts above.

He can be applauded for not wanting to raise taxes on the good citizens of illinois. Brickbats there for EJ and MM.

Otherwise the Governor deserves all the lack of cooperation he gets. Can you imagine the ‘creative’ redirection of funds and ‘improvements’ that would come from the Governor’s mansion?(oops I mean the Chicago townhouse)

The good people of Illinois may need a capital bill, but they do not want to give up the lottery or otherwise have increase in their taxes.

Comment by Plutocrat03 Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 11:12 pm
all in good fun, but is anyone as impressed as i that hoffman’s head fit on the screen?

Comment by get a grip Tuesday, Jun 10, 08 @ 6:14 am
Yeah. I noticed that. Must be the camera.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 10, 08 @ 7:05 am