Suburban Political Recount

More than six years ago, voters in the Winfield Elementary School District 34 approved higher taxes to pay for school construction. The project was eligible for more than $2 million in state assistance. But that money never came and the local taxpayers have had to eat the entire cost of the project. On an almost annual basis the district and about two dozen others fall victim to political gamesmanship at the Capitol. The authority to spend nearly $150 million to finally pay up was included in the state budget the Illinois House and Senate approved on May 31. But that was among the nearly $1.4 billion in spending Gov. Rod Blagojevich cut this week because the budget was out of balance.

Senate President Emil Jones Jr., a Chicago Democrat, has often quipped that the state should tax the media to balance the budget.

Now he's got a new tax plan.

"We're going to put a tax on the mayor," Jones told reporters as he walked past the pressbox in the Illinois Senate.

This was after Jones said the city of Chicago should have to send money to Springfield to help pay for the rest of the state, a reference (I think) to the city complaining about having to pay millions for a state gambling license under the expansion plan Jones wants.

Here's the news release from the Green Party that just arrived ...

Green Party's Rich Whitney to Unveil "Don't Blame Me…" Bumper Sticker

Rich Whitney, 2006 Green Party candidate for governor, will unveil a new bumper sticker that reads "Don't Blame Me, I Voted Whitney for Governor". The bumper stickers, available for $2 apiece, will go on sale July 10, 9 p.m., at a reception hosted by Whitney during the 2008 Green Party National Convention at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago, Ill. Revenue from sales of the bumper sticker will benefit the Whitney for Governor campaign committee, as well as 2008 Illinois Green Party candidates.

The 20th special session of the 95th Illinois General Assembly is now officially underway. I was up in the Senate -- which really doesn't have anything to do today -- and my headcount at 1:30 p.m. had 34 of 59 members present. That's more than a lot of people -- including myself -- would have predicted yesterday. The opening prayer in the Senate was telling. Michael Keppler from Springfield Southern Baptist Church prayed for cooperation and asked that Wednesday be a "day of breakthrough progress and productivity." Amen to that. Over in the House, however, despair is in the air. I got back to the office just in time to hear House Republican leader Tom Cross utter this line: "I don't believe today is real."

For those of you planning on watching the General Assembly's special session on Wednesday and Thursday (audio and video available via www.ilga.gov), the festivities kickoff shortly after 1 p.m. and are expected to go until nearly 6 p.m. They'll likely resume Thursday morning, 10-ish is usually a good bet. Here's the question of the day: Will the Cubs have more players on the All-Star roster than the Senate has members show up? Keep in mind, all the focus is on the House, which has turned its back on the idea of massively expanding gambling in order to pay for billions worth of construction spending. The Senate already approved the gambling expansion and $34 billion worth of spending. But the Senate gets brought back for the special session along with the House.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich made an appearance in Chicago today to essentially complain about how high gas prices are. By the end, he was teetering on the verge of yelling at reporters and calling "ridiculous" and "stupid" their questions about his pal Tony Rezko's financial fraud conviction stemming from state investment kickbacks. Rezko was a key Blagojevich fundraiser.

Blagojevich said reporters should report on things people care about, like sky high gas prices, now over $4 a gallon, if not well over.

Here goes.

Daily Herald Chicago reporter Rob Olmstead covered Gov. Rod Blagojevich's news conference today and sent me a transcript of the governor's comments.

Reading it over, I was stunned by this passage:

“I think there’s great cause to be concerned. If Speaker Madigan and the House leadership pick up a veto-proof majority … then they’ll be in a position to easily override a veto.”

That sounds an awful lot like the Democratic governor is urging voters to shun Democrats this fall so his intraparty rival – Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan -- doesn’t get any stronger.

During Wednesday’s news conference, Blagojevich claimed Madigan is scheming to raise taxes soon. Madigan’s spokesman denies it.

Guess what year the following comment was made by a state lawmaker regarding the state budget:

"... a budget that is not expected to last throughout the year, but long enough to last through the elections. You know what's going to happen? Come January and February, we're not going to have money for this program or that program.

The Answer:
1994. Then-state Rep. Lauren Beth Gash, a Highland Park Democrat, was explaining to Lakeland Newspapers reporter Kevin Hanrahan why she was one of a select few lawmakers to vote against the state budget.

Keep in mind, this was back during Republican Gov. Jim Edgar's tenure, which in retrospect is perceived as being extremely fiscally responsible.

On Friday, Gov. Rod Blagojevich traveled to Harrisburg way down in Saline County to announce he's moving more than 100 state traffic safety division employees there from Springfield. That's a few hours away from the Capitol and, perhaps not surprisingly, few of the employees plan to uproot and move if this ever comes to fruition.

The governor said he's moving the jobs there because Saline County's unemployment rate is among the state's worst and he's trying to help.

With that sentiment in mind, if you were supreme ruler/governor, what state agency or department would you move where for maximum economic impact?

In today’s story, House Republicans recommend that Gov. Rod Blagojevich cut out money for lawmakers’ raises before he begins cutting programs and services. The 3.8 percent cost-of-living increases add a couple grand to lawmakers’ base pay, taking it to $67,800. (They make thousands if not tens of thousands more serving in leadership, running committees, etc.)
The governor’s pay would increase more than $6,000 to almost $177,500. There are various raises for his cabinet members and top state officials. Keep in mind, this is all separate from another set of pending raises that take effect if lawmakers don’t quickly vote to reject them next time they’re in Springfield.