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* The reason for this funding holdup isn’t too difficult to figure out…
Two years after getting a campaign-year promise of cash from Gov. Rod Blagojevich, Carterville schools have finally received the money.
Blagojevich promised $1.9 million in state money to help repair Carterville High School in Southern Illinois.
But until recently, the district had received less than half of that amount, leaving officials to borrow money to fix the school.
Superintendent Tim Bleyer said he was “pretty worried” at times the district wouldn’t ever get the money. But it finally arrived last week.
“It is a relief,” Bleyer said.
When dealing with Blagojevich, one should always look first at the most crass political explanation possible. Carterville is represented in the House by Democratic Rep. John Bradley. a longtime Blagojevich nemesis.
That may not be the complete explanation, but it’s close enough. And it’s yet another reason why so many legislators refuse to trust the governor with the $34 billion capital plan. They know they’ll be jumping through endless politial hoops to get their project funding released, no matter how solemn or public the promises were.
It is interesting that they’re releasing the project money now, however. Bradley is under intense local fire for opposing the capital bill. This takes some heat off of him. The explanation for the reversal may have far more to do with Sen. Gary Forby’s reelection this fall than the Bradley grudge.
* And this piece shows how things are going in the House these days…
Southern Illinois University School of Medicine officials had hoped to open the SimmonsCooper Cancer Institute this summer.
But the Springfield facility — where a ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony will take place Thursday — looks as if it won’t begin serving patients until late fall or early next year because the $895,000 needed to heat, cool, light and maintain the institute in its first year was cut from the state budget proposed for fiscal 2009.
The money, along with funding for initiatives at three other universities, was slashed by the Democratic-controlled House in May, apparently because they were sponsored by Republicans, said David Gross, SIU’s executive director for governmental and public affairs.
Last year, Speaker Madigan and Tom Cross were allies in the budget negotiations. Not so this year. Cross has broken with Madigan and his members voted against every version of the state budget that the House passed. So, the Repubs got cut. It’s mean and nasty all around, campers.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jul 8, 08 @ 9:56 am
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Springfield may be top-notch for heart care, but I know first-hand it isn’t for cancer. One of my closest friends is getting treatment out of town at a hospital that is, and has been, using much more modern equipment than Springfield facilities can provide. Pushing back the opening of the Center because of partisian squabbling is not only disgusting, but quite heart-wrentching for cancer patients. And that is sad.
Comment by BandCamp Tuesday, Jul 8, 08 @ 10:04 am
With the work that SIU president Glenn Poshard has done and been doing for the Governor’s capital plan, I can’t think that the cut to the cancer institute will not be healed soon.
Comment by anon Tuesday, Jul 8, 08 @ 10:13 am
This makes no sense, spend the money to build it but cut the funds to run it? We need “PUBLIC SERVANTS” not these political hacks that are calling the shots now.
Comment by Dan S, a voter and Cubs Fan Tuesday, Jul 8, 08 @ 10:18 am
Madigan’s famous memo spoke of excising the tumor, hence no cancer center in Springfield. It’s a matter of self preservation for guv.
Comment by A Citizen Tuesday, Jul 8, 08 @ 10:21 am
I wonder if they’ll change the name now that Cooper is no longer with the firm?
Comment by Madison County Watcher Tuesday, Jul 8, 08 @ 10:44 am
Still can’t figure out why Cross went with Blago over Madigan. Even if Rod didn’t have the feds all over him, it’s not the long-term move. Maybe he plays checkers, not chess.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jul 8, 08 @ 10:46 am
We got the government we want, don’t we?
The more we demand of our state government, the harder the fall when they fail us. We cannot continue asking for our own pork barrel projects without expecting tax increases and bloated bureaucracies to run them. We cannot expect efficient government when we elect hundreds of political santa clauses, each with their own list of naughty contributors to reward. We cannot expect our economy to grow when we elect people who hate businesses whenever politically expedient to do so.
We have the government we want.
We want more, not less. We want more, not sacrifices. We want more, not higher taxes. We want government to salve our conscience, not put another dime into a Salvation Army bucket. We want government to feed and cloth our poor, but not ask us to help. We want government to keep us safe, but not take responsibility for our own personal safety. We want government to pay for our health care, pharmaceuticals, and Botox injections, but without a tax increase.
We got the government we want.
You want to see a special interest that is railroading state government into bankrupsy? Look in the mirror. You want to see a greedy spoiled irresponsible immature adult? Keep looking in that mirror.
When our politicans made promises, you knew what they were promising couldn’t be done without sacrifice. When Blagojevich promised health care to all funded by a GRT, you gagged on your own greed and demurred.
As politicians battle over funding crumbs you want your crumb and don’t care who pays for it. As they fight over personal squabbles, you turn your nose up at all of them, but reelect them just the same. As long as you get yours, you don’t care.
We got the government we want, don’t we?
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Jul 8, 08 @ 10:48 am
Now VanMan that was just plain mean. All I want them to do is pass that House No Increase budget and maybe spend a little on Impeachment. I was look’in in the mirror when I said that. Is that too greedy?
Comment by A Citizen Tuesday, Jul 8, 08 @ 10:55 am
= You want to see a greedy spoiled irresponsible immature adult? Keep looking in that mirror.=
VMan, speak for yourself, dude.
It’s state government. It’s not always pretty, but it’s not the apocalypse, either. It’s roads, schools, public aid and Medicare. Revenues and expenditures. Lighten up, it’ll get worked out. Save the dramatics for Charm School.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jul 8, 08 @ 11:08 am
Wordslinger:
There are two answers to your question re why Tom Cross sided this year with the Governor vs. the Speaker. The first is that the capital plan was/is Rep. Cross’ top priority. When Cross’ political mentor, Speaker Hastert, signed on as one of the front men for the Governor’s plan that sealed the deal.
Second, Rep. Cross probably thought it would be a good strategic move for his Caucus to support the Governor’s plan. He had to have known that Speaker Madigan wasn’t going to let the Governor and Emil Jones get their way with the capital bill, lottery lease, gaming expansion, etc. As much as it is an uphill climb, Rep. Cross had to have come to the conclusion that the chances of electing Republicans to the House this fall improved by having his Caucus support a capital plan, knowing full well that they could sit back and watch the Democrat leaders muck it up.
Comment by GA Watcher Tuesday, Jul 8, 08 @ 11:46 am
“It is interesting that they’re releasing the project money now, however. Bradley is under intense local fire for opposing the capital bill. This takes some heat off of him.”
This seems to assume competence in the bunker. And rationallity.
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Jul 8, 08 @ 11:55 am
Will they not bill for services? Would they not earn enough to pay utilities?
Comment by Chanson Tuesday, Jul 8, 08 @ 12:23 pm
The most fascinating thing toi me this time around is that the repubs, and more directly Cross, are backing the Govs! play in the budget.
“And it’s yet another reason why so many legislators refuse to trust the governor with the $34 billion capital plan. They know they’ll be jumping through endless politial hoops to get their project funding released, no matter how solemn or public the promises were.”
Even Bomke who got burned in the very fashion on the Lincol Developmental Center is backing the gov on the capital bill. The republicans in IL have lost their judgment if they think the Gov is the ally to support and madigan the one to war with.
No wonder they can’t rebuild.
Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Jul 8, 08 @ 12:29 pm
Doesn’t Illinois have one of the most powerful governor’s offices in the country, by statute. Somebody back there in the past decided that Illinois state govt needed a very, very powerful executive. Now, our Blago may feel that it’s not powerful enough. But it’s pretty powerful.
Not sure of the pros and cons of a super powerful
state executive (combined with liberal, not to say downright greed-enhancing, campaign finance laws)
but given that this is what we got, is it surprising that he is using that power by doling out our money to his own ends. No…..
Comment by Cassandra Tuesday, Jul 8, 08 @ 12:49 pm
VanMan, Lighten up! If you get any more self-righteous you’ll be Jerry Moore.
Comment by Bill Tuesday, Jul 8, 08 @ 1:13 pm
Ghost-how is cross backing the guvs play on the budget? That doesn’t make any sense.
Capital is separate from the budget and it’s been a HGOP issue for years.
the Governor breaths air too–does that mean anyone who breaths is backing the guv?
Comment by Easy Tuesday, Jul 8, 08 @ 1:37 pm
Easy, you’re only partly right. The governor, however, says he needs the capital bill to balance the FY09 budget.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jul 8, 08 @ 1:42 pm
Easy, what Rich said. The republicans have been making it a point to appear WITH blago at events to pus the capital bill. Tey are not just breathing the same air they are carrying the same sack of money.
Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Jul 8, 08 @ 2:11 pm
Rich, it is true that the Governor says that, but Republicans are not.
I’m not disputing HGOPers are pushing for capital. But there’s a big difference from them pushing for capital and them following Rod on the budget. And the facts as I see them are HGOPers are opposed to both of the revenue plans being offered by Rod.
When we start trying to leap to assumptions about who is backing who, these distinctions are importnat.
Comment by Easy Tuesday, Jul 8, 08 @ 2:22 pm
If the SIU Med School cash was so important to the GOPs why did StatewideTom vote against the Higher Ed approp in May after the committee approved an agreed bill? MaybeState Tom can get Blagoof to give him an MOU for the dough just like they got in Carterville …..just be sure to check the expiration date.
If the SIU Med School cash was so important to President Poshard why did they give the House a bill opposed by the City of Chicago and existing casinos. Seems like a sure loser to me
Comment by DumberThanYou Think Tuesday, Jul 8, 08 @ 3:01 pm
Easy you put a bunch of republicans on a podium with the Gov syaing they support what the Gov is doing and there is no assumption about who is bacing who, the only question is are the Repubs nuts for campaigning with the Gov and picking his shirt tails for their political ride.
Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Jul 8, 08 @ 3:09 pm
SIU SOM is a great place to work but the managment stinks. It is only because of the rank and file employees that the school exists. The management does everything it can to take advantage of their good employees while rewarding the political hacks that work there. Believe me I know first hand. The school shouldn’t receive anymore money till the many serious problems are addressed. Many good employees have chosen to retire early because of the abusive treatment. These retirements have left the school with even more serious problems.
Comment by Thinking without the box Tuesday, Jul 8, 08 @ 6:13 pm
I bet if they put the Governor’s name on the building they could pry the money loose.
Comment by RJW Tuesday, Jul 8, 08 @ 8:06 pm
Giving money to Carterville to repair schools was wrong in the first place.
State law provides a mechanism for schools to perform “life safety” work funded by the sale of life safety bonds or tax levies to the Life Safety fund.
The repayment of the “necessary” life safety repair bonds may be added to real estate tax bills in the district without referendum.
In fact, every public K-12 school district is REQUIRED BY LAW to have a professional evaluation performed by licensed architects at least every 10 years.
Every other school district ensures that their schools are safe (and air conditioned) using life safety code provisions without a $1.9 million “gift” from the guv as a photo op.
Why should Carterville get this gift while poor areas of Robbins and East St Louis don’t?
Blago seems to be using the “Evita” style of goverment asset allocation; shake down businesses and unions for political cash and throw out tax dollars for pub as if it were a “royal” right.
(to the tune of “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina”)
Don’t cry for me corrupt Springfield,
The “truth” is all I must fear,
All through my wild flights (to Chicago)
My glad assistance (to contributors)
I kept my promise,
Don’t talk impeachment……
Comment by PalosParkBob Tuesday, Jul 8, 08 @ 11:07 pm