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A kissable moment?

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Illinois

* As I already told you, the Illinois House is coming back next week to deal with a few issues, including a Lottery lease. Rep. Gary Hannig told one of his local papers that he expects the chamber will take up a capital projects spending bill as well as the Lottery lease revenue bill…

Hannig said he expects the House also will take up a spending bill that will detail what projects can be funded by the capital program. A capital bill passed by the Senate in May itemized some projects, but also included billions of dollars in spending to be determined later. Madigan and many other House Democrats say that is unacceptable because they do not trust Blagojevich to be fair in spreading projects throughout the state.

In addition, House members will be asked to approve a $300 million to $400 million “fund sweeps” bill that could help restore some of the $1.4 billion in cuts Blagojevich made to the state budget for the fiscal year that began July 1. The money would be taken out of restricted state funds and put into the state’s general checkbook account.

Hannig acknowledged that the trick will be deciding how any additional money should be spent. Rank-and-file members each have their own preferences, from restoring cuts to social programs to keeping parks and historic sites open to giving statewide officials cash they need to avoid layoffs and furloughs.

* More…

[Madigan spokesman Steve Brown] wouldn’t get into specifics of that plan but said it would need to safeguard education money and ensure capital projects that are funded actually get done, regardless of what other projects Blagojevich might favor.

Brown said they don’t want to leave room for any “intimidation” by Blagojevich.

Some of the holdup over a capital plan has been that some in the Madigan-controlled House don’t trust Blagojevich to fulfill capital projects without diverting money to his favorite causes and away from others to punish some lawmakers.

* The governor was ecstatic yesterday about the possibility of a capital bill being passed this month…

“That’s a good sign. And if [Speaker Madigan] actually passes it, and it’s real, and we start putting people to work, I may not just hug him. I may actually kiss him,” Blagojevich said.

“Having said that, I love women. I’m happily married. That would be a kiss because I want to put people to work. It would have nothing to do with anything else. And if he wants me not to kiss him, I’d be happy not to do that, too, so long as we put people to work and pass the jobs bill.”

No comment.

* Meanwhile, the Post-Dispatch takes a look at how the Lottery idea, germinated in Illinois, has spread to other states, but without success…

At least 10 states, including Texas, California, Florida and New York, have discussed the concept.

In each of those states, the idea has fallen flat among lawmakers.

Arturo Perez, fiscal analyst with the National Conference of State Legislators, says a prevailing concern among the states is the loss of control over an asset.

In addition, Perez said there are concerns private companies will be more beholden to investors than state taxpayers, meaning they will push the envelope on expansion.

“One question that is asked is whether you are going to see lottery kiosks everywhere you go,” Perez said.

* The SJ-R editorializes on the subject today…

We have three words for those making a decision on exchanging the lottery for cash: Proceed with caution. Make that four words: Proceed with extreme caution.

* Related…

* A Capital Plan Could Bring a Kiss

* Britt: Toon about Gov. Blagojevich and ethics legislation

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Sep 4, 08 @ 9:14 am

Comments

The Lottery lease is a bad idea. To much long term loss of income to the State for too little gain. It is robbing the future for decades to provide a quick fix to financial short falls today. A quickfix that lasts a few years. Then we have still no ability for long term funding of similiar future capital programs; plus we are saddled with the loss of income from the lease. Lottery lease is a horrible idea. No more quick fixes and putting off debt. no more 1.5 billion in unpaid bills which we grow and pass on to the next fiscal year. we need real solutions which will last long term.

Fund sweep is a good idea. Taking fees special interest groups pressured the legislature into segrgating into special funds. We should abolish the special funds and put all fess and finds into GRF. The sweep is a good first step.

Comment by Ghost Thursday, Sep 4, 08 @ 9:26 am
The governor is talking a lot these days. I miss the bunker days.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Sep 4, 08 @ 9:28 am
Word, maybe his CNN feed is out.

Comment by Ghost Thursday, Sep 4, 08 @ 9:40 am
Talk of leasing the lottery reminds me of a couple things.

Remember Wimpy the character in the Popeye? He always wanted to pay you tuesday for a hamburger today.

Those cheesy commercial on late night cable television which promise cash now in exchange for signing over the proceeds for your structured settlements.

So far no one has explained how the general fund will make up for those lost lottery dollars which have been going into education. (from the lottery web site “nearly $623 million per year in Lottery revenue - about 9.6% of the state’s annual contribution to K-12 education”

Fund sweeps can be a bad idea as well. Many fees are collected with a promise that the funds will do X. Those kinds of funds should be used for the purposes intended. Politicians should not be able to move money around to suit their desires to ‘purchase’ votes

Comment by Plutocrat03 Thursday, Sep 4, 08 @ 9:45 am
MJM,

No lease. No capitol projects. Please get a handle on today’s bills before you add to the problem.

If you ignore this advice please raise the state income tax a small amout to generate an income source for your largess.

Oh, and get everyting in writing from you know who.

Comment by Leave a light on George Thursday, Sep 4, 08 @ 9:47 am
Madigan would be all for the Un-governor to kiss him, as long as it was on his a–.

Comment by you go boy Thursday, Sep 4, 08 @ 9:52 am
My fingers are crossed that MJM has a few aces up his sleeve that will manifest during the special sessions. I’m not sure what’s changed since the previous failed attempts to lease the lottery in an effort to fund a capital plan. It’s worth noting that a dozen or so other states have considered and rejected this idea. We’re still lacking any meaningful ethics legislation, the governor continues to have little political capital, and pensions remain woefully underfunded.

Add to this caustic mix the idea that school funding reform has been brought to the forefront, and it begs the question of why the GA would cede a stable, dedicated, and seemingly irreplaceable revenue stream for pennies on the dollar.

Comment by The Doc Thursday, Sep 4, 08 @ 9:54 am
If they decide to sweep the funds, the funds should then be abolished.

Comment by Hickory Thursday, Sep 4, 08 @ 10:15 am
Who runs the Lottery now? Why can’t they run it the way the leasee will run it? If they did, presumably, the state would make more money.

I just do not understand how the state comes out ahead with this in the long run. Whoever takes this deal does so on the assumption they can make a tidy profit. I see that as money the state should be able to capture if we keep it in-house.

Let’s find out who the leasee would have run the Lottery and hire that person to run it for us!

(Before someone responds about the inefficiency of gov’t, rest assured, I get it. But that doesn’t mean it has to be that way.)

Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, Sep 4, 08 @ 11:18 am
With global warming, do we really need more busywork to increase CO2 and continue living beyond our means, especially by adding more infrastructure to maintain at more expense?

The only new infrastructure worth investing in is high speed fiber optics to reduce long-term EMP risks and cut our oil and car addiction that drains Illinois’ economy.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Sep 4, 08 @ 11:27 am
The only new infrastructure worth investing in is high speed fiber optics to reduce long-term EMP risks and cut our oil and car addiction that drains Illinois’ economy.

“Honey, could I borrow the fiber optic? I need to teleport some groceries to the house and materialize Junior from soccer practice.”

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Thursday, Sep 4, 08 @ 11:33 am
I may not just hug him. I may actually kiss him.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Thursday, Sep 4, 08 @ 11:39 am
I’m thinking that if Madigan ever dared to oppose this or make any changes in any way that the gridlock would continue and Blago would continue to demonize and/or punish anyone who was opposed to him.

Comment by Levois Thursday, Sep 4, 08 @ 12:38 pm
Fund sweeps aren’t fair. Those funds are there because the special taxes for them were easier to pass than raising income or sales tax and then doling the money out of the GRF.

For those that think fund sweeping is great, you wouldn’t mind then a little sweeping from the Tollway Authority’s fund or the road fund. Right?

Comment by Cornerfield Thursday, Sep 4, 08 @ 4:02 pm