Suburban Political Recount

Gov. Rod Blagojevich fancies himself as similar to California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in many ways. If that’s the case, the developments below don’t bode well for anyone that works for the state here.

Of note, the reporter – Don Thompson – left the Daily Herald’s Springfield bureau to work for the Associated Press in Sacramento. I’m sure the winters are warmer, but it looks like the news is pretty much the same.

State workers lose jobs amid Calif. budget crisis
By DON THOMPSON, Associated Press Writer

Thousands of state workers were told to stay home Friday under an order by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger aimed at cutting expenses for California's cash-strapped government, but a lawsuit filed by a union claims the governor is overstepping his authority.

In early July, House Speaker Michael Madigan said this about gambling expansion: "Given the conditions that exist here in Springfield, I think that the proposed expansion of gaming is a dead issue." To which Gov. Rod Blagojevich told the Springfield State Journal-Register that it was "mind-boggling" that Madigan would use his "resourcefulness and cleverness" to defeat a construction spending plan that relied on gambling for financing. But on Thursday, the governor offered up a new plan that contains none of the new casinos he'd fought so bitterly for just a few weeks ago. See, the spirit of negotiation is alive and well in Illinois government. Another century or two and we'll get that construction plan approved.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich has abandoned adding more casinos to Illinois as the way to pay for his $34 billion construction spending spree. Instead, he's continuing to call for leasing out the lottery for billions upfront and using the extra money the state gets in sales taxes from higher priced gasoline to pay fo rthe construciton plan. His backing away from the gambling table comes a week after the Daily Herald ran a three-part series examining the casino industry in Illinois and how the state lags in its help for addicts and how casinos roll out tighter slot machines to make up for fewer patrons.

Talk of big new casinos paying for roads and schools has been the focal point of Gov. Rod Blagojevich's construction spending proposals. But the key component is leasing out the Illinois Lottery for decades in exchange for billions of dollars upfront for the state. The state gets gobs of cash now to spend, a private company would collect the losing lottery players cash.

Chicago Democratic state Sen. John Cullerton and former lottery director Michael Jones sent out this piece delving into some possible pitfalls regarding the lottery deal.

MEGABILLIONS

By Senator John Cullerton and Michael Jones, former Director of the Illinois Lottery, 1981-1985

Here's the latest John McCain TV ad.

Ummmm ... what do Britney and Paris have to do with gas prices?

Unofficially, there's a meeting of legislative leaders scheduled tomorrow (Thursday) in Chicago. Early word is the governor will use it to unveil a new construction spending plan again financed by gambling expansion but this version would not include a Chicago casino. Mayor Richard Daley came out against the last plan because the governor sprung it on him with no input. There was also a provision in it that let Blagojevich, not Daley, decide which school construction projects get funded in the city. Chicago lawmakers pulled off the plan and it failed. Don't bet on a plan without a Chicago casino doing any better.

A year after a Minnesota bridge collapse sent people tumbling to their deaths, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich reflects on the situation and uses it to try to prod approval of his $34 billion gambling-expansion-for-road-construction plan.

Here's the text of his announcement:

Governor Blagojevich recognizes anniversary of Minnesota bridge collapse

Governor applauds IDOT for diligence in keeping Illinoisans safe; emphasizes need for capital plan to address infrastructure needs

What a way to get back to work after two weeks of vacation -- sitting in Springfield traffic court for a couple hours waiting for State Rep. Bob Biggins DUI case to be called. He pleaded guilty, gets a restricted permit, fine and mandatory counseling. A story should be up soon and in tomorrow's paper. But if you ever want to see a different slice of life, go hangout in a courtroom for a couple hours. And some advice if you ever find yourself waiting for your case to be called: t-shirts and flip-flops probably aren't the best choice for making a good impression with the judge. No, Biggins was wearing a nice suit. But other then he and I and the lawyers running around, the dress code was more dive bar.

We interrupt this two week vacation to bring you this tidbit ... OK, for years I've heard downstate lawmakers living near the state's borders complain about how high Illinois gas prices are compared to those neighboring states and how their constituents drive over those borders to fill up on cheap gas. Well, this past weekend we loaded up the Animal Farm Vanagon and headed to St. Louis to take the little ones to the zoo, City Museum, Union Station, etc., etc. There was easily enough gas to make a round trip, but, hey, I'm in Missouri, I might as well take advantage of this cheap gas I'm always hearing about. Looky here, gas for $3.98 a gallon. I'll top off the tank and save a couple bucks.

About a year ago, Schaumburg state Rep. Paul Froehlich decided he wanted to be a Democrat. That was big news because Froehlich had spent nearly a decade running the local township Republican organization and been elected to the General Assembly under the GOP banner. The representative might want to keep this all in mind when he rises to speak on the House floor and challenge his former colleagues on the Republican side. Earlier this year, he questioned a downstate Republican's idea to bring year-round horse racing to the track at the Illinios State Fairgrounds in Springfield. Froehlich pointed out that the lawmaker pushing the deal had once opposed gambling.