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* 3:50 pm - The House has adjourned until tomorrow citing the lack of any bills to debate.

The Senate Dems and Repubs are caucusing until 4:15.

* 5:05 pm - The Senate Rules Committee just popped the pay raise resolution onto the floor. Sen. Hendon claimed the House’s inaction on capital and school funding meant that this was not a good time for raises.

So, it appears that the pay raises may be dead. A vote is expected in minutes.

* 5:40 pm - 47-0-3 the pay raises are rejected.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 3:51 pm

Comments

What a waste. The Governor absolutely cannot do any heavy lifting. You would think he could introduce a bill for the GA to consider.

Comment by Crystal Clear Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 3:53 pm
and the cost for a special session day is roughly what?

Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 3:54 pm
SCHOOL FUNDING IS FINALLY FIXED!

we’re on a roll! let’s do pension reform next

Comment by YAY Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 3:59 pm
The cost is minimal since few showed up.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 4:00 pm
Spec. Sess # 23 is recessed. The Senate is coming back into Regular Session at 4:15. No calendar on line for reg sess.Do they have 31 present today if they vote on HJR132?

Comment by AsAMom Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 4:01 pm
When the Governor calls for a special session shouldn’t he have some form of legislation available for the house and senate to consider?

Comment by MOON Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 4:03 pm
Rich - maybe you should clarify that.

There are plenty of bills to debate, just none that the leadership can agree on that they will ALLOW to be debated. Small nuance, but when it comes to the leadership, we are dealing with small people.

Comment by trafficmatt Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 4:04 pm
Remember when special sessions were special?

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 4:05 pm
The man will not involve himself in the process, then pulls the “re-write to do right”, and then can’t “understand” why the House Dems don’t trust him. No,it’s all about blaming Madigan. The man is a joke, but no one is laughing anymore.

Comment by Crystal Clear Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 4:06 pm
Hmmm, harness racing starting and all the downstate legislators’ favorite band is playing tonight, House of Nasty…no coincedence here at all…

Comment by BandCamp Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 4:09 pm
VM—I do. Perhaps we can start calling them ‘irregular’ instead of ’special’.

Comment by Vote Quimby! Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 4:12 pm
That was productive!

The resolution Rep. Kosel brought to the floor (to honor a HS softball team that happened to be in the gallery) couldn’t even be voted on because it was off topic.

Back at 5:00pm tomorrow. The capital bill will be passed and Illinois’ economy will be rosy once again!

Comment by Pot calling kettle Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 4:44 pm
I forgot: “Huzzah to the great and powerfuls: Rod, Mike, Tom, Emil, & Frank! Huzzah! We are indebted to you all for running the state so well! Huzzah!”

–Did I say “Huzzah!?!”

Comment by Pot calling kettle Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 4:47 pm
They are going to rules right now

Comment by My Opinion Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 4:56 pm
HJR132 approved for consideration. Anyone know how many senators are there?

Comment by AsAMom Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 5:03 pm
Is Hendon buckling under the weight of the Tribbies investigative piece?

Comment by The Doc Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 5:10 pm
Pot calling kettle, I think you can leave Tom and Frank out of this one, it is the D boys in all their glory wasting money and ruining our state.

Comment by Leigh Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 5:16 pm
Oh yeah they’re debate the raises in the Senate Hendon seems to be against the raises.

Comment by Levois Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 5:19 pm
“Its unfortunate some people are making this a political game…” Hollywood said, talking about Quinn’s stunt yesterday. “I urge ALL members to reject the raise at this point. It was ALWAYS my intention to allow members the right to vote.”

Yeah, right….

Comment by Vote Quimby! Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 5:19 pm
It is one thing for Madigan to not go to leadership meetings, but to not attend the special session while the state is crumbling is inexcusable. Time to elect a new leader!

Comment by CU at the fair Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 5:28 pm
Is Emil being defensive?

Comment by Levois Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 5:35 pm
And the pay raises are dead! Unanimous vote!

Comment by WonderBoy Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 5:40 pm
I think the polling must have shown his candidates getting raked over the coals for this, and he’s decided to deal with it and move on. Of course, the GOPers will still have his “food stamps” quotes from earlier whether they ultimately rejected the raises or not. Stupid.

I find it rather funny that the theme of his floor speech was “hypocrisy.” This coming from a guy who, as leader, is doing the “hypocritical” political thing by now letting his members vote on it only after being roasted by nearly every print media outlet in the state. Let’s not even talk about Hendon’s remarks!

What a joke this state has become.

Comment by Amuzing Myself Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 5:51 pm
Does it also kill the pay raises for judges also?
So will the Court rule to impose the raises again?

Comment by decatur voter Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 5:56 pm
At least, in the end, the right thing was done and the pay raises are gone. Bottom line, Illinois wins!

Comment by Vote Quimby! Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 6:12 pm
Court previously ruled that according to constitution, salaries cannot be reduced during a term of office for judges. That issue addressed the COLAs. The COLA is automatic, the pay raise is not. Raises are dead.

Comment by Decisive Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 6:13 pm
Hurrah! Sometimes the voice of the people is heard in the Capitol. About time….

Comment by soccermom Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 6:28 pm
What a joke ,while single moms and others need real support with day care and senior care, u all find this entertaining. I’m glad my senator stayed home. We forgot why we are down there. Remember “the People”?

Comment by Humboldlt park Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 6:36 pm
Did anyone see anything of the substance abuse rally at the statehouse this afternoon?

Comment by bleeding heart Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 7:04 pm
Memo to Rod: “Thanks so much, home-boy, you really showed Mike who’s the boss today, signed, Emil and Ricky”.

Memo to self: “Homeboy is whack”.

Comment by Gregor Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 7:23 pm
Good job, Decisive! Thanks for the info…

Comment by Vote Quimby! Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 7:59 pm
CU: What is Madigan supposed to do? Stand in the chamber and twiddle his thumbs? Attending the leadership meeting is probably more necessary so he can try to help craft legislation. But if there’s nothing to vote on, the special session is worthless.

Comment by Peter Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 8:21 pm
who were the 3 present votes?

Comment by colt 45 Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 8:56 pm
nevermind. i figured it out.

Comment by colt 45 Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 9:02 pm
How do these folks keep getting re-elected?

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 9:06 pm
And to think that Trotter was on Chicago Tonight last night saying he was for it, they deserved it and all that, he winds up voting present. Chicken.

Comment by Blue in DuPage Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 9:12 pm
Didn’t I hear that Emil said that he was going to vote for the raises? He didn’t have the kahonies to even vote for the raise, instead he voted present.

Comment by ripper Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 9:40 pm
All that crafty calendar counting for nought. Months of bad press, and you still don’t get the money. Is that checkers or chess?

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 10:14 pm
I must say I am still surprised at the outcome. I was not expecting a rejection, much less such a straightforward one.

Jones either got something for this from the gov, or is trying to step back from the embarseement caused by his lieutenant handing out 20k checks.

Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 10:27 pm
another banner day for IL government!

Comment by Loop Lady Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 7:14 am
And, the best part is that Emil “I Need Another Pay Raise” Jones decided to take the coward’s way out by voting “Present” rather than having the guts to vote either Yes or No on the pay raise issue. What a gutless wonder!Ha-ha I wonder if Emil is being groomed by his Party to replace Blagojevich if Rod is suddenly called upon to answer “a higher calling” from someone such as Patrick Fitzgerald?

Comment by Honest Harry Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 7:30 am
Ghost - this is a victory for the people - it finally sunk in with these lughead Senators that this issue wasn’t going to go away - they rejected the raises to save their butts.

Comment by Please!! Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 7:38 am
Generally, I am opposed to making the pay raises of elected officials and civil servants a political football.

However this outcome - the defeat of the legislative pay raises is consistent with the results of the last two legislative sessions - zero.

Governor Pinocchio, Godfather Jones, and Machiavelli Madigan have failed, are still failing, and will continue to fail the people of Illinois unitl the voters break the logjam in 2010.

Impeach them all! We need new leadership at the top or we’re just “stuck” with the status quo - dsyfunction and failed leadershio. We’re supposed to just grin and bear it while the top Democratic dogs fight it out.

PS Apologuies to all the hard working rank and file legislators and the leasdership deputies who could and would do better if their leaders would just let them do so. I think we’ve got people waiting in the wings of power that would do a much better job than Blago, Jones, and Madigan.

Comment by Captain America Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 7:38 am
I don’t begrudge the legislators any pay raises they might receive. But when state government stands still for almost two years, pay increases seem over the top.

Comment by Fan of the Game Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 8:12 am
Captain America -
Good point about leadership at the top - but the good rank and file lawmakers need more good folks in their ranks too — we need to be developing and supporting bright new leaders now as well. I suggest everyone go out and find a campaign to work on - new blood - either party - pretty darn obvious that is is not about R or D - but about us vs. them!

Comment by Please!! Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 9:05 am