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* 1:01 pm - The guv went on the attack again today. No surprise…

Gov. Rod Blagojevich slammed CTA leadership today, accusing the agency of being dishonest to the public, and “scaring” the General Assembly into passing sales tax hikes.

Blagojevich said everyone on the CTA board takes its marching orders from City Hall, and he plans on appointing new members to the CTA board who will think independently.

* 1:48 pm - More Games? Maybe so not…

It appears the House is positioning itself to restore hundreds of millions of dollars in project and program funding cut by Gov. Rod Blagojevich to balance the budget. Cuts and closings of state parks, historic sites and jobs at DCFS and the Department of Human Services would be reversed.

However, it also appears at this point that the House will restore for more spending than it will come up with money to support. A quick glance of the “uncuts” found ~~more than $880 million restored~~. But a run through of the money in the special state accounts the House would tap came up with less than half that amount. [emphasis added]

The fund sweeps would produce about $266 million in revenues if all were tapped. That’s a whole lot less than the $880 million which would be restored, if all of those pass.

CLARIFICATION: What’s going on here is that the House will advance about $214 million in funds sweeps and a like amount in budget restorations, including for alcohol and substance abuse programs and state parks and historic sites. The rest, about $371 million in GRF and a bunch in federal match (mostly payment cycle stuff) is not yet funded, but the House Dems say they are willing to work with the governor, the Senate and the Repubs to come up with funding streams.

* 1:53 pm - Oof…

ComEd customers in Illinois will soon pay 6 percent more, but a consumer group plans to appeal the decision to increase utility bills.

The Illinois Commerce Commission approved the delivery rate hike for the utility giant Wednesday, adding about $4.50 to the average consumer’s bill.

* 3:12 pm [Posted by Kevin Fanning] - WBEZ has posted audio from the Governor’s comments regarding the CTA. Also included in the audio is Blagojevich answering questions from reporters on the capital bill and the debate over education funding.

* 4:05 pm - The House has overriden the governor’s amendatory veto of the ethics bill. Just three members (Hoffman, Granberg and Collins) voted against the override.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Sep 10, 08 @ 1:45 pm

Comments

Blago wants to fight Madigan and Daley at the same time. Soon he might have Fitz for the Irish Trifecta.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Sep 10, 08 @ 1:07 pm
How about free bus rides for seniors to Illinois casinos so we can get at their money through the slots? They would have to use their CTA pass card to activate the machines and the money they lose could go to transit.

Ah, I love it when I solve a funding crisis.

Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Wednesday, Sep 10, 08 @ 1:13 pm
So was the Governor hugging himself at the time?

Comment by Commonsense in Illinois Wednesday, Sep 10, 08 @ 1:17 pm
No surprise the city’s contribution to the CTA remains at… $3 million per year. The same as it was 20 years ago.

Comment by jj Wednesday, Sep 10, 08 @ 1:20 pm
So, okay, I’m dumb, who appointed the LAST CTA board members?

Rod isn’t going to get any traction on this. Joe Lunchbucket sees Rod championed the free rides, and that’s good, and then sees that Rod has now cut millions in state funding to pay for it. That’s the headline, that’s the sound bite Joe hears. Even he can do simple math of this level, and it adds up to Rod giveth with one hand and taketh away with the other. Makes CTA look like the victim. Not Rod.

Comment by Gregor Wednesday, Sep 10, 08 @ 1:20 pm
I find myself agreeing with the governor’s message - although his choice of forum and delivery leaves something to be desired.

Comment by The Doc Wednesday, Sep 10, 08 @ 1:21 pm
I get scared whenever the gov interjects the “INDEPENDENT THINKING” clause. As I recall he used the same phraseology when he replaced the members of a number of boards and commisions with friends of Rezko and himself. Under this administration, “INDEPENDENT THINKING” is just a euphemism for “political toady who will do the gov’s bidding.”

Comment by Sweet Polly Purebred Wednesday, Sep 10, 08 @ 1:41 pm
So how many $25K checks will come from the “independent thinkers” that he wants to appoint?

Comment by Sick of it Wednesday, Sep 10, 08 @ 2:03 pm
I wonder if those CTA Board jobs will go for the standard $25,000 or maybe more? Perhaps a discount if you want two or three?

Comment by A Citizen Wednesday, Sep 10, 08 @ 2:08 pm
Regarding the Governor’s threats to clean house at the CTA:

Chicago Transit Board
The governing arm of the CTA is the Chicago Transit Board. The board consists of seven members. Currently the Mayor of Chicago has appointed Rev. Charles E. Robinson, Carole L. Brown, Alejandro Silva and Henry T. Chandler, Jr. as board members. Ms. Brown serves as Chairman.

Serving alongside them are Susan A. Leonis, who serves as vice-chair, Cynthia A. Panayotovich and Nicholas C. Zagotta who have been appointed by the Governor of Illinois. The Mayor’s appointees are subject to the approval of the Governor and the Chicago City Council; the Governor’s appointees are subject to the approval of the Mayor and the Illinois State Senate. CTA’s day-to-day operations are directed by Ron Huberman, President.

So, not only does the Governor need the Mayor’s approval for everyone he appoints, but Rod Blagojevich approved every single board member on there!!

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Wednesday, Sep 10, 08 @ 2:14 pm
Guv’s personality shift from holed up out of sight to renewed publicity hound may be evidence that the Rezko vacancy has been filled? Maybe Cini’s too? Might account for his new false bravado, at least until Fitz figures out who it is.

Comment by A Citizen Wednesday, Sep 10, 08 @ 2:18 pm
The list of impacted funds includes taking $2 million from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. The fund is broke as it is, thanks to the tanked housing market. They have had to use TANF funds to cover current obligation for the Homelessness Prevention Fund because there is not enough revenue coming in via the real estate transfer tax. Where is this $2 million going to magically appear from?

Comment by montrose Wednesday, Sep 10, 08 @ 2:19 pm
There’s no question of the day?

Comment by Levois Wednesday, Sep 10, 08 @ 2:24 pm
wordslinger- I love the phrase Irish Trifecta- what an awesome description.

Comment by leigh Wednesday, Sep 10, 08 @ 2:24 pm
Blagojevich is no dummy.
He wants to be our Sarah Palin as he displays that maverick streak some thought they saw in 2002.

Yup, he’s our “little reformer”!
‘SOB!’
I’m getting all verklempt thinking about our little guv!

He’s SO brave!

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Sep 10, 08 @ 2:42 pm
Oops my mistake, sorry! You can delete my earlier comment.

Comment by Levois Wednesday, Sep 10, 08 @ 2:44 pm
Let’s see Blagoof signs rta/CTA bill nine months ago and dozes off. Now he learns his dopey Senior Rides Free scheme is a bust

Comment by 2ConfusedCrew Wednesday, Sep 10, 08 @ 2:57 pm
I can’t believe Blagoof considers Cindy a non reformer…..what a sexist insult

Comment by 2ConfusedCrew Wednesday, Sep 10, 08 @ 3:20 pm
2ConfusedCrew has learned the Palin lesson well!

Comment by jj Wednesday, Sep 10, 08 @ 3:36 pm
Wow, I listened to Blago talk about the CTA and seniors. He actually claimed the free rides will lengthen their lives. I’m not a senior yet but I am going to start ridin now. I bet I’ll live forever. Come to think of it, I’m gonna put my Ma on the bus when I get home.

Thanks Rod.

Comment by Livin' Forever Wednesday, Sep 10, 08 @ 3:46 pm
Good to see Blagoof get thumped on ethics and autism …. the level of sleaze being emitted from Blagoof and his enablers is too much

Comment by 2ConfusedCrew Wednesday, Sep 10, 08 @ 4:09 pm
If and when Impeachment is initiated would it take the form of a House Bill, Resolution or what ?

Comment by A Citizen Wednesday, Sep 10, 08 @ 5:07 pm
A resolution

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Sep 10, 08 @ 5:53 pm
That press conference on CPR has got to be the most self-serving thing I have ever heard. Where has he been on reforming the CTA board? It’s almost as if he woke up today.

Comment by Levois Wednesday, Sep 10, 08 @ 5:55 pm
Yes, a pox on both their houses. “Free rides” is a dumb money-losing idea (and why do disabled people have to be both low income and disabled?) but the mayor seems to have a magic pass on many issues. RTA is “nominally” presiding over CTA, Metra and Pace. How does CTA have two bosses - RTA AND city of Chicago? Why doesn’t CTA agitate to get some local matching funds for capital project funding from the city? Why wasn’t Meeks demonstrating at city hall about school funding? Doesn’t the city collect a lot of property tax, and who decides how much goes to the school district?

Comment by NoGiftsPlease Wednesday, Sep 10, 08 @ 5:57 pm
Hannnig’s House Amendement #5 to SB790 (which will become the bill) totals $224.25 million in sweeps, not $214 million. That reduces the reserve amount to be used under ¶¶(c) to about $10 million.

Comment by David Starrett Wednesday, Sep 10, 08 @ 6:04 pm
They passed the sale of the lottery bill about a half hour ago. I thought they were waiting until Thursday for that. Are they going home tonight?

Comment by Been There Wednesday, Sep 10, 08 @ 6:15 pm
the veto override of the ethics bill is all good, but now it goes to the Senate. If they dont vote on it within 15 days, the entire bill and the changes die.

any indication the Senate and its retiring president will be back? if not the whole ethics thing goes down the toilet.

Comment by Ghost Wednesday, Sep 10, 08 @ 6:31 pm
If emil Jones doesn’t call the Senate back and pass this over ride both he and guv must be impeached. They will have become a RICO enterprise.

Comment by A Citizen Wednesday, Sep 10, 08 @ 7:08 pm
I am so sick of this guy’s arrogance and stupidity. Will someone rid us of this pox.

Comment by Disgusted Wednesday, Sep 10, 08 @ 8:13 pm
Can Chicago secede and become the 51st state if the legislature fails to impeach Blago? I say they should send him down a coal mine in his spiritual home of Deepest Downstate, never to see the light of day again.

VM, the Sarah Palin parallel is interesting. The more I look into it, the more I see their governing styles are almost identical. A scary thought for November.

Comment by Angry Chicagoan Wednesday, Sep 10, 08 @ 8:29 pm
So why should the Governor be impeached? Because the House acted in their own best interests and overrode what were obvious improvements to an ethics bill? Because the House apparently feels that only constitutional officers should be subjected to ethics scrutiny and not legislators? Because the House voted to lease the lottery in order to implement the governor’s jobs plan?
How does action by a legislative body warrant action against the governor? If you have to have someone to blame shouldn’t it be someone from the House? Personally, I think it is all 2ConfusedCrew’s fault. Can we impeach him?

Comment by Bill Wednesday, Sep 10, 08 @ 8:56 pm
YDD is 6/7ths right, the Governor has approved six of the seven cta board members. And if he wanted to change the appointment structure or reconstitute the board, he could have done so as part of his amendatory veto adding free rides to seniors. Heck, he could have made the rta and cta chairmen governor’s appointees, as it is in NY and Boston, but he didn’t because he was too much of a coward to get into the meaningful details of the legislation. He just postured on the senior rides, and he deserves everything he’s getting now.

Comment by been there Wednesday, Sep 10, 08 @ 8:57 pm
Its too bad that CUB has veered so far from its roots. What used to be a true watchdog group has morphed into a weakling and mere shell of its former self. It hobbles along, trying to convince itself and us that it can protect us from the big utilities. Many people know this and I suspect, so does CUB. What a shame for them and us. Take it away Com Ed….its your show for sure these days.

Comment by Angry Utility Customer Thursday, Sep 11, 08 @ 1:25 am
Angry Chicagoan–what do you have against Downstate? We don’t want the governor here either.

Comment by ChampaignDweller Thursday, Sep 11, 08 @ 8:46 am
==VM, the Sarah Palin parallel is interesting. The more I look into it, the more I see their governing styles are almost identical. A scary thought for November.==

Yeah, they are talk like reformers, except the one we got didn’t.

Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Sep 11, 08 @ 8:48 am