Well, he did it. Blagojevich finally pulled the trigger. 23 days after it was passed by the legislature, Rod Blagojevich approved much of Illinois' new budget. In a news release he said that he has removed $463 million in spending on "special pet projects and other spending that we simply can't afford." The cuts now go back to the General Assembly for consideration, where a fight is expected with Speaker of the House Mike Madigan.... more ›

What happens when an already unpopular governor tries to raise taxes to pay for a universal healthcare plan that wasn't at the forefront of most voters minds? Rod Blagojevich found out after his sloppily composed and poorly executed budget collapsed under a vote of 107 - 0 in the legislature. As the budget deadline loomed, he found himself trying to play footsie with Senate President Emil Jones, getting down with expanded gambling in the state,... more ›