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The Illinois State Budget Fight just got weirder. Governor Rod Blagojevich quietly filed suit in Sangamon County Friday against House Speaker Michael Madigan, attempting to force the Speaker to hold special sessions when he calls them. "It is imperative that (the governor's authority to call special sessions) is preserved and honored," Rebecca Rausch, a spokeswoman for the governor wrote in an e-mail to the State Journal Register. "After lawmakers failed to follow the governor's special session proclamations to address serious issues like funding for the CTA, RTA, and downstate mass transit, we asked the court to confirm the governor's authority." Madigan had urged lawmakers to defy the governor and skip the special sessions.
After vetoing nearly $500 million in spending from the budget he recently signed, it looks like the tantrums and retaliation aren't over yet. Besides Rep. John Fritchey's (D-11) observation that most of the special sessions called left legislators little to work on, it's worth noting that this suit is aimed at the House, in spite of the fact that the Senate has had an equally dismal attendance record this year. Madigan has been quiet recently, much like he was at the beginning of the fight. So while Blago daring the General Assembly to take him on, the Speaker is most likely working behind the scenes.
In the meantime everyone is asking who will represent who in this case, we're wondering when Lisa Madigan is going to start printing up "Lisa in 2010" signs.
Image via WattHead.
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Can we file a lawsuit against Blago compelling him to stop being such a little bitch?
I thought it was anti biblical to even question Mike Madigan's roll in the public square, let alone take him on?
How dare Blago! What's he thinking?
www.thecapitalfaxblog.com has some decent coverage of this
this suit is ridiculous grandstanding with no clear political benefit for the gov. I think that it is pretty safe to say that he has snapped...
Recall blago!!!
What is Madigan's roll, Spook? Cinnamon or pumpernickel?
Neither, actually the Speaker/ ward committeemen prefers coal with brimstone on top
a la carte.
At last we have an action even stupider and sillier than anything the city council in all its idiocy has taken. WTF? We pay these idiots a salary and trust them to keep our best interests in mind and deed. The dictator Bush has set a wonderful example of sticking the welfare of "the people" up the wazoo. And we, "the people" seem to be powerless to effect any change. Add that despot Stroger in the mix and we are truly f***ed AND seem to accept this as our due. It boggles the mind.
Curm: I don't like Bush, but he's no dictator, not even close. He's more like a bumbling would-be despot, emphasis on would-be.
If he were a dicator, we'd be wondering how private Social Security will affect us; we'd probably be bombing Iran now; and he wouldn't have bothered to go back to Congress on the warrents thing. We would have had his version of immigration "reform" as well, and abortion likely would be illegal.
I hate to spoil a hysterical rant, but do you even read history my friend? People like you give Bush haters a bad name.
Carry on.
guest 8:
You are right about Bush, but he would if he could. That doesn't negate the rest of what I said. And no Bush hater has a bad name.
So, I wonder how much state money this suit will suck up in legal fees. Way to go, Rod!