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* The AP has a pretty good summary of what’s going on in Springfield this week, but they also tread lightly, particularly on the last point…
Q: What do black lawmakers say about the [special session on education]?
A: That Blagojevich called it, so it’s his responsibility to present an agenda. […]
Q: Hasn’t Blagojevich ordered special sessions before?
A: Yes. This week’s sessions will be the 23rd and 24th so far in the current two-year legislative cycle. […]
Q: Why does Blagojevich keep calling special sessions if nothing ever happens?
A: A governor only has so many ways to exert pressure on legislators. With the state budget deep in the red, there’s little money for pork projects in the districts of cooperative lawmakers. With federal investigators probing his administration, he can’t award jobs to political allies.
Two things Blagojevich can do are use his veto power to amend legislation - which he’s doing increasingly often - and order special sessions. Even if lawmakers do nothing, he can point to their inaction as evidence that they’re obstructionists.
* Erickson asks a question that is on a whole lot of minds this week…
The question of the day for many state lawmakers Tuesday was: Why are we here?
Called into special session by Gov. Rod Blagojevich, members of the House and Senate were directed to do something about the state’s school funding formula, which allows wide disparities in funding levels among the state’s 800-plus school districts.
But nearly everyone agreed the topic simply cannot be handled in a one-day, hours long session.
“It’s absurd,” said state Rep. Bill Mitchell, R-Forsyth. “We know we can’t accomplish anything.”
* And Rev. Sen. James Meeks blasted away with both barrels…
In the Senate, Democratic Sen. James Meeks of Chicago sounded a similar theme, accusing Blagojevich of “calling us down here for absolutely no reason at all.”
“Everybody at home thinks that we’re here dealing with some educational matters, when in actuality we’re not,” said Meeks.
“When the governor calls a special session, the governor is supposed to have an agenda. One, two, three, what we’re supposed to do,” Meeks said. “He calls a special session on education without a plan, any ideas on education, and I just think it’s appalling.”
Blagojevich spokesman Brian Williamsen responded that the governor’s previous proposals to the legislature have been rejected.
* More…
‘’He’s sending the same one he sent in 2006 by making a promise and not keeping it — That this is not his priority,'’ said Meeks, a leading critic of the school-funding system.
The governor said he was not happy with lawmakers’ actions Tuesday.
‘’I'm disappointed that after lawmakers asked for a Special Session to fund education, the House called it quits after just a half-hour,'’ Blagojevich said. ‘’There are a number of solutions and proposals that I have introduced that could have been discussed, but instead, some members used their time to point fingers and offer excuses.'’
Blagojevich spokesman Brian Williamsen said in an e-mail that Meeks had requested the special session.
[Sen. James Meeks (D-Chicago) called it “appalling” and “disappointing” that Blagojevich failed to present an education reform plan Tuesday. The senator, pastor of a large South Side church, has called for a boycott by Chicago Public Schools students on Sept. 2—their first day of school—saying they should try to enroll in the wealthy north suburban New Trier Township High School District. The governor instead headed in late afternoon to the Illinois State Fair cattle barns for the annual grand champion auction—a decision that angered lawmakers.
“He did not call a special session to deal with cows,” Meeks said. “He called a special session to deal with kids.”
* And the Daily Herald looks at what the legislative per diem buys at the Illinois State Fair…
What $129 buys you at the Illinois State Fair:
Corn dogs:
43 small ($3)
25 large ($5)
Lemon shake-ups:
43 small ($3)
25 large ($5)
Vinegar fries:
43 small ($3)
32 medium ($4)
21 large ($6)
Deep-fried Snickers:
36 ($3.50)
Soft-serve ice cream:
28 ($4.50)
*Editor’s note: Recommend dipping deep-fried Snickers into soft-serve ice cream!
* Related…
* Kass: This week, Gov. Rod “The Unreformer” Blagojevich revealed himself to be something of a madman, perhaps even a dangerous madman.
* State records show that Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s campaign coffers have raked in more than $314,000 in donations from companies and individuals doing business with the state over the last six months — a practice that many critics contend creates at least an apparent conflict of interest.
* Looking back at Michigan’s school funding “reform”
* Will Southland fight for school reform?
* Editorial: Springfield summer rerun gets old
* Southern Illinois Drug Treatment Programs Hit Hard By Blagojevich’s Budget Cuts
* Sale of Champions produces record bids
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 9:51 am
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That same statement from the Governor about his disappointment that the House session was only a half hour, actually started out with thus sentence: “The Constitution requires the Legislature to fund our schools.” I have not seen that statement quoted yet in the press, but it is a blatant misdirection of what the Illinois constitution actually says about the issue, i.e., “The state has the primary responsibiity for financing the system of public education.” I would guess the “state” also includes the executive branch in that responsibility (not that the courts have ever held that the state has to provide most of that financing).
Comment by Captain Flume Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 10:03 am
What’s stopping Meeks from introducing his own plan as a point of discussion? Last I checked the state Constitution, there’s nothing that says you have to wait on the governor.
If you holler about a problem, you’re obligated to offer a solution.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 10:12 am
Meeks is half right. Its cash cows before kids.
Comment by Ted Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 10:14 am
Why is the media giving Meeks a pass by not looking at his own lack of legislative accomplishments on the education issue? He is, after all, a member of the most powerful legislative caucus in the land. He and his leader, Senate President Emil Jones, both agree that a tax swap is the best method for “solving” the educational crisis. Most news stories barely even mention Meeks’ legislative office, or if they do, it’s only in passing (”Rev. Meeks, who is also a state senator…”). If I were a New Trier parent, I’d walk up to Meeks during his protest and politely ask him why he hasn’t been able to use his powerful office to affect the change that he seeks. I’d ask him why, after five years in office, he hasn’t been able to get his bill called for a vote in the full Senate where his Dems have a super-majority. I’d ask him why he’s staging a 1960’s-era civil rights protest when he should be working to round up support in Springfield for his tax swap bill. Meeks already has the power, and he hasn’t been very effective in using it. The media needs to stop fawning over his ministerial protestations and hold him accountable as a legislator.
Comment by The Unlicensed Hand Surgeon Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 10:16 am
Someone told Blago he was going to discuss pork, he took it literally.
Comment by Wumpus Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 10:27 am
TUHS, you got that nailed!
Comment by Captain Flume Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 10:49 am
Kass had a fun quote: “Maybe pay to play, but not fair play. Governor, this is the state where our license plate slogan should read—”Illinois: Will the Defendant Please Rise?” “
Comment by Ghost Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 10:59 am
What in the heck are “Vinegar fries”?
Comment by Downstate weed chewing hick Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 11:34 am
fries seasoned with salt and vinegar.
Comment by Ghost Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 11:35 am
Fresh french fries drenched in vinegar.
Delicious.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 11:35 am
Wasn’t it Ron Lawfer who “had more cows than people” in his district?
Comment by Madison County Watcher Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 12:23 pm
Perhaps after the stop in New Trier, the good reverend can take his merry band off to one of the school systems further south, say in Mattoon, IL or Neoga–school systems that would be thrilled to spend per pupil what CPS spends.
Comment by cermak_rd Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 1:28 pm
Totally agree TUHS nailed it. Perhaps an additional inquiry should be posed to the good Rev./Senator: why do you feel so powerless as a State Senator to effect change when the legislative and executive branches are totally controlled by Chicago Democrats? Does the paralysis of State Government on so many issues important to Democrats, seem to have at its heart a sincere debate over public policy or is it caused by petty turf battles over the spoils of power? Meeks may do this state a great favor by publically answering that question from his vantage point. I would hope the paralysis is due to sincere policy differences, yet I suspect it a less noble explanation involving greed, vanity and obsessions with personal power. As someone involved in civil rights, I find it fascinating that Meeks is resorting to the tactics of a person without power rather than plying the tools available to those in power. Perhaps its just an old habit, or perhaps he feels powerless in the Senate.
Comment by Ted Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 3:49 pm
This topic cries out for a where’s the beef quip.
Comment by Ghost Wednesday, Aug 13, 08 @ 4:18 pm