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In other news, the State Senate voted on absolutely nothing the other day. We’ve been wondering when Mike Madigan’s luck might run out, and it seems that, at least nominally, the governor has managed to rally a few of the cattle that serve as elected representatives to push back against Madigan’s plans to pork up the budget this year.
While his tax plan has been a fiasco, and his wet dream of universal healthcare in the state are arguably significant reasons that this year’s budget session has gone into overtime, Mike Madigan has played politics with funding for state agencies as well. After pushing his budget proposal through the House, forcing a vote while giving legislators little time to actually study the document, he’s been slyly playing the press, talking about how he has a budget proposal, and shadow boxing the Senate into a corner that it can’t seem to get out of. Now a letter has surfaced, signed by 22 House Democrats, including some close allies of G-Rod, some of whom are (are you sitting down for this?) on the outs with Madigan.
None of this should be a shocker to anyone that has even paid passing attention to state politics, even for 10 minutes. Of course, Madigan isn’t there yet: if a budget deal isn’t reached by July 9, there is a very real possibility that Illinois government will shut down. And he still hasn't sent his document to the Senate for a vote. Of course, after that big sexy vote on nothing of substance, it doesn't look like the House will pass Madigan's budget anyway. Not that that matters to anyone downstate. If Emil Jones can’t get what he wants, if Rod Blagojevich can’t get what he wants (not likely, by the way), and if Mike Madigan can’t have his way (millions of dollars worth of gaping loopholes, and a definite public body slamming of the governor), a shut down of the government will be just another pawn in this twisted game of public-sector chess.
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It should be noted that at the Leader's meeting yesterday it was decided that hopefully over the weekend an interim budget for one month will be drafted in order to avoid a government shutdown. G-Rod, however, said he was hopeful this would be a security measure and that a real budget would be drafted before the end of the month.
Yeah.... right.
Someone take G-Rod's jet away, so he has to stay in Springfield during this instead of flying back and forth from Chicago. Heck, that should be the policy while he's in office. A few trips between the cities seems relevant, but not as frequently as he does.
That should free up a few bucks and avoid a government shut down.
Throw the bums out. This is governance? I feel like I watching toddlers on a playground pushing each other into the dirt.
Re: "he’s been slyly playing the press"
Really?
Perhaps I've not read as much coverage as you, but I don't see any evidence that any serious reporter saw his budget as more than a glorified PR stunt with little chance of passing; I doubt Madigan saw it as anything more than that. I doubt you were fooled, either.
Care to provide more evidence?
Recall Blago and he doesn't fly on jet it's a King Air Turbo prop. Ground that too. Our Capital is in Springfield not Chicago. He should live in Springfield until they move the Capital to Chicaogo. He's a big dissapointment.
shut it down. shut it all down. the bottom line is these service jobs are just economic pass-throughs. money simply passes from one person to another, and no real wealth is created. that's the last thing this state needs to support. oh wait, this isn't the wal-mart thread? my bad. ;-)
(i don't know what my point is either, just having fun)
Government shut down?
All we need is for Blago to come out of the closet, get into an accident without his seat-belt, close down the CTA, and it'll be just like my old home!