DISQUS

Ghost · 2 years ago

They need to be in Springfield! If they are not here, who will the Governor be able to call from his home in Chicago to talk about his ideas with?

Marlboro Man · 2 years ago

"They can’t fix the problems with their budget or even send it over to the Senate if they are not in Springfield. Voters pay them to work, so they should be at the capitol finishing the work of the people."
Can the Governor's office really be this stupid? There has to be some plan in place that we are all to small minded to see, right? They cannot be dumb enough to throw a pot/kettle sentence in every press release can they? Maybe they can.

Master of Puppets · 2 years ago

To bad Madigan can't cancel Blagojevich.

Leigh · 2 years ago

Does the constitution dictate that the House has to solve all budget issues while the senators and governor play?

Anon · 2 years ago

What's the point in having all the mushrooms in town in the first place!

one of the 35 · 2 years ago

Rather than acknowledging that I am not spending enough time in Springfield as Governor, I will instead ignore the critisizm and apply it to others. Brilliant! Does he not know how phony this sounds?

Crimefighter · 2 years ago

Well, it seems Hot Rod is learning the HARD WAY about being absent...why should the legislature come to Springfield when the governor won't?

DeepFriedOnAStick · 2 years ago

The governor's office is desperate. Or they're losing their minds. Or both. They scold Madigan for canceling a session day when Emil can't bother to schedule more than one session day at a time and Rod can't bear to spend more than three hours at a time at the Capitol? Get serious.

Old Elephant · 2 years ago

It's nice to see that the Governor's office has toned down the rhetoric and is now working in a cooperative manner with all parties to bring this overtime session to an early conclusion.

If they keep up this conciliatory approach, I'm sure the legislature will be out of here by the end of June...2008

Team Sleep · 2 years ago

I was scanning through my AM stations this afternoon and I came across Rush Limbaugh (bleck!). He mentioned something about how compromise and bi-partisanship are bad things. Isn't that the same 'tude that Blago and his staff employ? It makes no sense for all of the house members to be in Springfield if there is no official overtime or special session. Have MJM, Currie, Hannig, Cross and the House GOP budget guru sit down across the table from Blago, Nix and whomever else is asked to come.

friday · 2 years ago

You know its bad when even Rich and Paul are taking time off. I even took a half day. Why not? No one else is working. Maybe in July....

jwscott72 · 2 years ago

I spent all morning trying to figure out the hidden meanings in the Soprano's finale. I get to spend all afternoon figuring out the hidden meaning in this statement. Who said Mondays weren't fun? :)

The Seer · 2 years ago

He guess what y'all... Madigan had to call off this weeks' party cause a bunch of them just went down to Puerto Rico. At taxpayer expense no less, to discuss the "issues" with mobsters, er, legislators from other states. I heard Emil is down there too. I Kid you NOT!

Steve Brown · 2 years ago

Let's share with all at the same time.
As the Speaker noted last week, the House has passed a budget. Once the electric rate relief issue is resolved the budget can be approved by the Illinois Senate and signed by the Governor.
That budget funds state government for 12 months and leaves an end of year surplus of about $900 million.
The Governor was invited to several legislative caucuses last week and defered. He is expected this week.
If there are any other new ideas I am sure each member of the legislature has a phone.
I think most will agree the rest of the comments are nonsense
Thanx & Keep in Touch

Rich Miller · 2 years ago

I can confirm that the person above is actually Steve Brown, Madigan's spokesman.

Crimefighter · 2 years ago

Us state workers didn't get a day off...

Steve Brown · 2 years ago

I can confirm that I actually talked with Rich.
He sounds sober and not on the boat --- what a waste of a great day :)

traveling man · 2 years ago

Was not Emil Jones and the Senate off until Thursday due to their Carribbean vacation(i mean conference).
Jones and Blago need to follow the Speaker's lead. The house has done something. That's more than what the Blago and Jones has done.

Cassandra · 2 years ago

I'm fine with the House budget but a little concerned that its passage will require constant ongoing taxpayer vigilance as Emil and the guv start trying to raise taxes in various types of supplemental legislator sessions or whatever they are called in the jargon.

DeepFriedOnAStick · 2 years ago

Brown: Multiple news outlets reported last week that Speaker Madigan acknowledged in comments that the House-approved budget is in fact out of balance by $600 million or so. Were those reports false?

The Cardinal · 2 years ago

Seems to me the gov needs a reallity check into the boards. He spends most of the time in chi-town training for some marathon when the real work is south of the Kennedy expressway. Perhaps the 25-30 somthings on 2 1/2 need s a reallity cross check too. This pie in the sky budget plan the G wants is rediculous without a TAX increase. looks like the Mother of all battles is just a mother....... Get to work Milorod

Dozer · 2 years ago

"No man's life, liberty or property are safe so long as the legislature is in session"

Mark Twain

publius · 2 years ago

sadly tusk and monk are gone and the governor is being misled by some junior staffer who apparently thinks there really has to be a budget which is passed by the legislature and signed by the governor---how old school---what happened to just saying it is so--- all the gov needs to do is say there is a budget---and a utility bill and a gaming bill and a free health plan and a wonderful fuzzy kitten for everyone and it will be so---and then we can all jog in our neighborhood in the afternoon and never show up at the office

GettingJonesed · 2 years ago

The Governor has taken time from his intense budget planning to inform ILnoyans:
"Illinois hosted a record 71.8 million leisure visitors in 2006, up 9 percent from the previous year due in part to stepped-up tourism marketing efforts, state officials said today.

The State and all of our partners are doing a tremendous job promoting Illinois to people across the state, the country and throughout the world," Gov. Rod Blagojevich said. "Tourism is thriving today as people have taken notice of all the diverse attractions we have to offer."

Steve Brown · 2 years ago

Stick:
How about Mr. Brown? Sounds more civil
As I said the end of year surplus is down to about $900+ million ( this year it will be about $1.1 billion) The $600 million is the nonsense from the 16/2/ or whatever floor they use in Ravensewood

demgrrl · 2 years ago

Didn't speaker madigan actually say in a news story last week that his budget had a deficit? How can it have a deficit, but still have a surplus? Well, it can't. Maybe some wires got crossed over in the speaker's office...

Leigh · 2 years ago

demgrrl, are you Sheila Nix?

demgrrl · 2 years ago

Leigh, you should try being a bit more original than that, but I can already tell that's probably not your strong suit.

Former Staffer · 2 years ago

I seem to remember that there was something in law that one chamber cannot be in session without the other chamber by more than a couple days. If the Senate isn't in this week until Thursday, then the House can't legally be in session until Wednesday. Am I crazy or does anyone else remember this?

Ghost · 2 years ago

Balanced budget is really a misnomer anyway. The whole thing starts by folks making guessses/estimates about how much money will come in from exisitng sources, and how much will be raised by new revenue ideas. They then spend the estimaed revenue. If the number made up fro revenue (estimate) equals what they want to spend, we call that a balanced budget. But if we do not take in the money they estimate, then the balanced part quickly falls away. I would be interested in some news outlet comparing the Governors prior revenue estimates with what we actully took in. i.e. are our budget guessers good or bad, are the off on the high side or the low side. After all, if we get the revenue income guess wrong, the fact that we make it equall our outgo does us no good.

Old Elephant · 2 years ago

Former Staffer: It's Article 4, Section 15 of the Constitution. "...neither house without the consent of the other shall adjourn for more than three days..."

Leigh · 2 years ago

Thats right demgrrl, I am just one of those whack job republicans who is totally embarrassed that our state is being controlled by a bunch of spoiled brat democrats who can't get along. Not original by a long shot just completely disgusted.

Buck Naked · 2 years ago

Demgrrl makes a good point. I remember the speaker saying that the house passed budget was $600 million out of balance. What gives, Mr. Brown?

As for those frustrated by the overtime and the clash of egos, I prefer to be in overtime debating important issues like education and health care. The process may not be pretty, but democrats care about the right things.

A Citizen · 2 years ago

drmgrrl - Is the gov in Springfield today and working in his office? Is he going to be in Springfield all week, working? Or are you all alone in there holding the fort down?

nino · 2 years ago

cat fight

michael_k · 2 years ago

If there's a 900 million dollar surplus in the proposed budget, and something like the RTA needs 226 million of a 27 billion dollar budget (.008 percent...) What's the big deal with using that money for the RTA? Providing utility rate relief? Does Madigan's budget include these things?

The 'Broken Heart' of Rogers P · 2 years ago

I gotta give this one to the guv's press spokesperson over Madigan's.

At least Ms. Nix knows how to spell 'thanks'.

Commonsense in Illinois · 2 years ago

I'm just wondering...where's the governor's disdain for the Senate for not even meeting two days this week while having hyperbolic pique to bitch that the House cancels one of three days...come on you guys, we just aren't that stupid.

Rich Miller · 2 years ago

C'mon, people, leave Demgrrl alone. She's not Sheila Nix. Respond to her posts, not her identity.

Also, to Michael-K, the "surplus" is used to pay off bills that come due after the fiscal year expires.

Anonymous · 2 years ago

"Mr. Brown"

Deep Fried and Demgrrl are correct. Madigan definitely indicated that the house approved expenditures were over estimated revenue. (Help us out, Rich. Wasn't that the whole point of your "come up with a billion in cuts" question last Tuesday?)

Have revenue estimates been revised upwards, as Ghost suggests. Do revenue estimates need to be in the appropriation bill? Where does the revenue number come from that is used in determining constitutionality?

(By the way, I think Madigan has been the most reasonable in the whole process so far.)

We just don't need more spin.

Rich Miller · 2 years ago

The HDems do, indeed, admit that there is at least a $600 million "hole" in the budget, but they say the guv can get around that by laying off more state workers, delaying Medicaid payments to providers, etc.

So Ill · 2 years ago

My personal favorite story over the weekend -- not that this has all that much to do with what we're talking about -- was that the developers of this new "Branson" were ordered by the Gov's office (well, DCEO) not to divulge any information about the project until the Gov could make a major announcement.

Trading away state park land...bringing hundreds of construction and fulltime jobs...but don't say anything, because we want to get the credit for it.

They ALMOST got away with it, too. Nosy reporters and loud legislators, how dare they.

Anonymous · 2 years ago

we've been nixxed!

so nix recently wags her finger at the house dems and tells the speaker how often his chamber needs to meet.

emil cancels session days in the senate so his members (and maybe himself, too?) can LEAVE THE COUNTRY for a few days despite the budget stalemate.

yet nix & co. have the chutzpah to scold the speaker even though he's the one who passed a budget (+/-$600m or not).

and they have the chutzpah to scold the speaker even though he's not the legislative leader to have altered his chamber's calendar so a few of his members can take a little vacation.

doesn't nix get it? comments like what the guv's office put out today don't do anything to move us towards any budget solution. in fact, it moves the leaders further away. there is NO LEADERSHIP IN THE GUV'S OFFICE.

maybe we should bring in dr. phil to deal with our dysfunctional governor and staff.

Kiyoshi Martinez · 2 years ago

Anon @ 6:01: "emil cancels session days in the senate so his members (and maybe himself, too?) can LEAVE THE COUNTRY for a few days despite the budget stalemate."

I would just like to point out that if you visit Puerto Rico, you are not "leaving the country," as you're merely visiting a United States commonwealth.

Bill · 2 years ago

Brown,
As you well know, the speaker's budget is not balanced and is based upon faulty revenue projections as well understated expenses. The speaker himself said that a tax increase is needed. Was he lying? Or was he just playing the usual posturing games. While you are here maybe you won't mind a couple more questions.
What is with these "surveys" of legislators. Everybody knows that the speaker does whatever he wants and then makes the house dems vote his way. Does he tell them what to write on the surveys or does he let them asnwer however they want and then just ignore them?
Don't you find it somewhat unethical to accept "pr" contracts to lobby legislators while acting as the speaker's "spokesman"?
You are doing a great job, Brownie!

A Citizen · 2 years ago

Kiyoshi Martinez - Heck, we all know it's just one of the collar counties, right?

Truth · 2 years ago

Whether or not the Speaker's budget is balanced is fully up to the Governor who would ultimately execute that spending plan. The numbers in the state budget represent spending caps approved by the legislature. It means the Governor can't spend more than that, but he could spend less.

What Madigan is saying is "Here is a budget, Governor. Now manage it." If the Governor spends every dollar that is appropriated in that budget, he'll be deficit spending by some amount. But if he actually shows some discipline, and manages within that budget, he'll be fine. As the Governor, he has a lot of powers that he could take to unilaterally to reduce spending. But he doesn't want to manage. He wants to spend more.

Brown is right, guys. Lay off. This overtime is about the desire of two people to spend a ton of your money. I'm glad somebody is telling them to get lost.

Bill · 2 years ago

Trurh,
This overtime is about one of the stooges trying to make the other two look bad.

Yellow Dog Democrat · 2 years ago

Rod Blagojevich criticizing anyone for not being in Springfield to do their jobs is about as phony as Rush Limbaugh criticizing someone for drug addiction.

Not only that, it's the dumbest p.r. strategy. The last thing Rod Blagojevich needs is stories about work ethic. Rod's lack of one is notorious, and Madigan has more work ethic in his little toe than Rod Blagojevich has ever demonstrated in his life.

Bill · 2 years ago

Mr. HB750 has now chimed in.
Never mind.

A Citizen · 2 years ago

Bill, theses guys make themselves look bad all on their own - that the pitch in to help each other look worse is just pure comedy.

Bill · 2 years ago

A,
You are absolutely right. At least I don't have to drive to the patch tonight.

'Lainer · 2 years ago

So Bill doesn't "have to drive to the patch tonight," eh? A clue to his real identity, perhaps?

Truth · 2 years ago

Overtime is about Rod's grand plans for spending a bunch of our money, his inability to understand the people don't want that, and his buddy's desire to keep his family members cashing huge state paychecks. That's the truth.

A Painful Prediction · 2 years ago

While Madigan may be the better strategist, the budget passed by the House is really really really bad. Unfortunately, crafting a budget, even a maintenance budget, is not the House Dem's forte. It's somewhere around $1.1 Billion short of a maintenance budget. It doesn't fund the negotiated union contract, leaves Medicaid bills to stack up, and short-funds secondary and higher education. And yet despite its many faults, it's the only viable game in town.

It didn't have to be like this.

Disgusted · 2 years ago

Why is it that when the buffoons at the Capitol and their egotistical leader can't agree on the budget, the rank and file state workers take another hit. If they lay off any more, this state will come to a grinding halt. They can't pay bills, can't send out information to clients or providers, can't keep buildings clean or cooled, and can't keep the computers running, because as it stands at the moment, most of them are doing the work of two and sometimes three people. All of this while the legislators stay home and the illustrious Mr. Jones and his cohorts take a trip to Puerto Rico on the taxpayer's dime. And to add insult to injury, AFSCME will probably have to retain an attorney to get the pay raises signed off on in the last contract. Negotiations and contracts with this bunch aren't worth the paper they're written on. The leaders of this state can't be trusted and would be perfectly typecast if "The Sopranos" ever becomes a movie. A pox on all their houses.

headsupchicagoland · 2 years ago

Who elected these guys...exactly...anybody got a list?

NimROD · 2 years ago

"Who elected these guys…exactly…anybody got a list?"

Start with the Cook County cemeteries...vote early and vote often!

Cassandra · 2 years ago

I thought the guv was going to give 7 percent raises to MC employees this year. Perhaps they already have received them. After all, many are patronage employees, hired because of their political ties or contributions to Blago and pals.
It's important to keep your political supporters happy, especially when you probably plan to run again in 2010.

Unfortunately, this raises the ante for AFSCME which will no doubt demand 7 percent annual raises for unionized employees so they can keep up with the hacks.

State employees, unionized or no, legislator or civil servant, are completely insulated (courtesy of our taxes) from the economic pressures of middle class life in Illinois. Free health care, free pensions, ironclad job security...they are a little Sweden right in the middle of Illionois.

Osunlade · 2 years ago

hey Bill,

Answer this question, whats up with Rod re-nigging on alot of promises he made? Don't you think that has something to do with this budget fiasco? Funny to see why alot of former staffers (including campaign staff) have jumped ship to other constitutional officers b/c of the inability to trust Blago. Whatever BS you answer with just keep in mind, we all know your tendencies to distort the facts.

State of Farce · 2 years ago

You know, just when you think that Blago can't get any weirder or more stupid...I truly think he is insane. I always have. Remember when he first got elected and came out with guns blazing against the legislators (the drunken sailors)? Then it was his father-in-law and landfills. Since then, he has fallen flat on his face every time. Not to mention the investigations...and Elvis! I have been watching the Legislature for 30 years. No one has acted like this village idiot. Impeach the fool! Picking fights with Madigan....certifiable.

A Citizen · 2 years ago

When they start serving fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches in the Rathskeller and the blind guy under the stairwell pushes quaaludes we'll know he's in town. Elvis, that is.

demgrrl · 2 years ago

Rich, I'm sorry that you've had to take up a part-time job of coming to my defense. I always welcome a good, honest debate, and there are plenty out there on your blog willing to do so even if I don't agree with most of them. And, if folks think I'm sheila nix, that's fine by me. She's a very decent person.

And, your point about the speaker's comments that the gov can lay off folks and increase medicaid payments to make up for his $600 million-plus deficit (which he did indeed make) will never fly in his caucus. They spent half the time beating up the gov during his three-hour marathon with them for medicaid payments being too far overdue and not having enough docs in the program -- which happens to be totally untrue since the payment cycle is 70 days or so less today than it was four years ago, and the governor's budget would bring it down to 30 days. With that said, the madigan budget could add another 30 days to the payment cycle and wouldn't provide rate increases to docs. I don't think the house dem caucus had any idea what they were voting for when they passed madigan's budget, but when they find out I'm sure they'll have a lot of questions for their speaker.

anon · 2 years ago

Fair is fair. If the Governor's press assistant can be a Deputy Governor, then Brown can be a Deputy Speaker. Congrats Mr. Deputy Speaker.

A Citizen · 2 years ago

With "his" budget the pmt cycle would be 30 days? Geez, with 6 or 7 BILLION dollars they should be paid 6 months plus in advance! The gov's attempted money grab is outrageous and unaffordable. NO growth is the responsible budget.

demgrrl · 2 years ago

A Citizen,

Are you saying that the governor's budget would provide another 6 or 7 billion for health care? You would be horribly mistaken if that's the case.

Fed up State Employee · 2 years ago

I've had enough of Cassandra's inane comments. Last month my "free" state insurance cost me $178.00. My "free" pension cost me $276.28.

And job security? Tell that to the thousands of state employees who have been laid off since the current regime took power.

Enough said...

A Citizen · 2 years ago

drmgrrl - Are you saying the gov's health care budget is just for medicaid pmts? You parse to finely - and then gloss over grossly. Your arguments become specious.

demgrrl · 2 years ago

Fed up,

there have not been thousands of employees laid off since this admin took office. Totally false. Maybe a couple hundreds, tops. However, I think you're totally in the right to be fed up over your rising health care costs. If we provide health care to the uninsured, your costs will stop skyrocketing year after year.

demgrrl · 2 years ago

A,

please stop using big words. I'm getting to close to my bedtime to think.

No, that's not what I said nor what I mean. the gov's medicaid budget includes a reduction in the payment cycle of 30 days. it also includes a lot of other good things, including rate increases to hospitals and docs. These are on top of the Illinois Covered proposal.

A Citizen · 2 years ago

dmgrrl - ...If we provide health care to the uninsured, your costs will stop skyrocketing year after year.... - If we provide? Then costs would be zero to the individual. Except they would pay through the nose in increased costs for everything the increased taxes are squeezed out of as well as direct taxes. The citizens will NOT be getting something (health ins. etc.) for nothing! You don't have enough wool to cover everyones' eyes. Really, they are not that stupid.

A Citizen · 2 years ago

dmgrrl, that headache is coming from a bad case of cognitive dissonance - come over to the light side while you still can. You're too caring for the dark side. Night, night.

Leigh · 2 years ago

Can someone please share the answer with me. Will illegals be covered under the "health insurance for all?" Are we currently supporting illegals through allkids? I have heard that the majority of kids in allkids are illegals, but tend not to believe the right wing any more than the left.

demgrrl · 2 years ago

A,

again, I let facts, rather than irrational statements, make my case. Illinois Covered is not for free. It's based on income. Bills for the uninsured get passed on to those of us that have our own insurance. That's why premiums skyrocket year after year for everyone.

I'm not sure how people will pay through the nose in increased costs for everything the increased taxes are squeezed out of as well as direct taxes...wait. What the heck are you getting at? Again, it's past my bedtime so I may be a bit slow right now.

A Citizen · 2 years ago

Illegals?? Of course. I'm holding out for coverage for my beagles! It's all free courtesy of those mean big bad corporate boogeymen. Te Blagster said so!

demgrrl · 2 years ago

Leigh,

From what I've been told the majority of kids in all kids are not "illegal" (god forbid we should give children health care -- it's not as if they had a choice in coming here) and "illegals" are not covered in IL Covered.

A Citizen · 2 years ago

drmgrrl - past my bedtime - Bill, where'd you find this lady - she's NO party girl! Never make it in Springfield. The real business is done at night, not in chambers.

demgrrl · 2 years ago

A,

I'm saving up my strength for the week. Good night!

Peoria Pete · 2 years ago

To Cassandra- MC employees are not getting 7 percent. The typical raise (Blago's plan is on a calendar year basis so is about half done) gives almost everyone between 1.5 and 2.5 percent. Eligibility for "bonuses" was severely limited in most departments per CMS order, so please, please, limit your comments to something closer to the truth.

Fed Up State Employee · 2 years ago

Pete
A fellow employee (MC) told me he had just had his review before the plan was implemented. Said he was told he wouldn't be eligible for his raise for another year.

Lainer · 2 years ago

Cassandra, don't forget about payless paydays... some of the longtime people in my office (legislative branch) have gone through one or two of them. It's relatively rare, but it does sometimes happen during end-of-fiscal-year budget crunches, often enough that people are starting to worry about it. Our healthcare isn't "free" either. Maybe more affordable than a lot of private companies offer, but by no means "free."

The Conservative · 2 years ago

The Democrats fiddle while the State burns.

Wake Up · 2 years ago

To all Merit Comp employees - wake up, we are getting screwed. This Governor hates our guts and shows his contempt by not giving us the compensation that we merit. For those who think AFSCME isn't a viable option to protect your rights - get your head out of the sand. SIEU is the Gov's "union." They have nothing to offer.

Tessa · 2 years ago

I know I'm worried about the next fiscal year, if the budget doesn't include an increase for more staff. Where I'm at we're working with 25% overtime a pay period. Makes no sense, paying that much money out when we should hav hired staff at regular pay to fill positions. Mandation every day for everyone every shift. People want to see their kids, don't want to get sick because of working so much. Ridiculous. It's everywhere you go in the state.

Bad enough now that even I'm looking for another job. And I swore I'd never do it.

People in charge don't know what they're doing and how it's affecting the people doing the work or the people we care for. Maybe someday a legislator will look at one of these posts and get a clue. Probably not.

Skirmisher · 2 years ago

I was actually dumbfounded to see on this blog (Not in the newspapers) that a component of Madigan's so-called budget is to simply ignore the State's commitment to fund public employee pensions....Again!! With underfunded pensions being one of the most dangerous of Illinois' many fiscal situations it is inexplicable that the House democrats could again be this irresponsible. I have seen absolutely no one from either legislative branch or either party say one word about this. Unbelievable. Is there no responsible person left among Illinois' elected officials??