BERNARD SCHOENBURG Numbers start to add up for GOP

Do the math: Numbers begin to add up for Republicans

It's almost like an infomercial's promise: Take our product and see amazing results! You'll feel stronger overnight!

At least on the surface, it was that kind of metamorphosis for members of the House Republican caucus at midnight Thursday. That's when the political math changed so that instead of a simple majority, most legislation requires 60 percent approval. That means some Republicans have to go along with any final agreement on a budget and most other matters that will take effect in the new fiscal year, which begins July 1. That's because 60 percent is 71 votes, and there are only 66 Democrats in the 118-member House.

In some years past, governors would negotiate with caucus leaders of both parties leading up to a summer budget agreement. But that hasn't been the case for at least a couple of years with Gov. ROD BLAGOJEVICH, whose 2002 campaign promises to open up the state budget process now look laughable because he rarely visits Springfield, meets the press or talks to Republican leaders.

Before June 1 arrived last week, Blagojevich even made a public point of his intention to box out the GOP in budget influence.

"We should do everything we can to get the business of the people done on time so that we don't empower the House Republicans," he said. "We know what their proposals are and what that means to the things Democrats care about."

Well, Democrats, who control the House and Senate, couldn't quite figure out what they want as a group. Many Democratic legislators see education as the state's top priority while Blagojevich campaigned this spring for broad new taxes to fund universal access to health insurance. He has yet to take no for an answer.

So, you might wonder, what do rank-and-file House Republicans think of their new-found power?

"It's nice that we're finally part of the process," said Rep. RICH BRAUER, R-Petersburg. "I think by being part of the process, we're going to have compromise and we're going to have a lot better budget bill in the end. First of all, we're not going to have a huge tax increase."

House Republicans at one point proposed expanding existing casinos to pay for a capital plan for roads and other building needs, and Brauer thinks that idea could fly.

"It doesn't have any new (casino) locations, and I think it's reasonable," he said.

Brauer, who joined the House when Blagojevich became governor, said he's frustrated with the process but used to it. He thinks more seasoned colleagues, who remember more open budget processes, are even more frustrated.

Rep. BILL MITCHELL, R-Forsyth, a House member since 1999, said with the new power comes responsibility to craft a good budget.

"People want the General Assembly to work together - Republicans and Democrats," Mitchell said, "and I think, hopefully, this will be a new day and we'll be glad to work with the governor. I mean, I'm trying to be optimistic."

As for the governor's desire for a big health-care plan, Mitchell said Blagojevich has to do a better job of persuasion.

"If he's still interested in that, he could come to the Republican caucus ... and then work with us (to) see what our priorities are."

I asked if he would trust Blagojevich in that process. Mitchell noted that even Democrats demand memorandums of understanding to put Blagojevich's budget promises in writing.

"You want to trust him, but you have to be real skeptical about it," Mitchell said.

"You're glad you finally have a seat at the table," said Rep. JIM WATSON, R-Jacksonville. He said cooperation is necessary, but he also wondered if Democrats might still find a way to dominate.

"It's important that we add constructively to the process if we're ever going to get out of here," he said.

Watson worries a lot about the state's lag in paying bills.

"If we've had a balanced budget every year for five years, how in the world do we have a structural deficit?" he said. He said he'd have to look closely at any new revenue source to make sure it helps close existing budget gaps.

Rep. JIL TRACY, R-Mount Sterling, thinks House Republicans and Democrats haven't been that far apart philosophically in this spring's budget battle - both going for just a modest increase. However, she doubts some of the numbers passed in the House Democrats' version of the budget last week, which Democrats claimed would raise about $300 million by ending certain business tax breaks.

She also thinks exclusion of Republicans this spring hurt chances for a solution.

"If we hadn't been left out, perhaps we wouldn't be in this situation right now," Tracy said.

Rep. RAYMOND POE, R-Springfield, in the House for a dozen years, remains wary that Democrats will find a way to continue to keep Republicans out of the loop on major issues. One such scenario, he said, is that the budget passed by the House last week could be voted on in the Senate, where the Democrats' 37 members is more than 60 percent of the 59-member body.

Passage could send that budget to the governor - though its priorities are far from what Blagojevich has promoted this spring.

Still, Poe hopes that the new GOP power will provide a way for members like him to get things for their districts. He would particularly like to see $300,000 in operating money for Springfield's medical district in the budget. It's not there yet.

And only time will tell if a budget is "there yet" by July or August.

The Republicans were empowered last week because of a 1994 state constitutional amendment designed to encourage the General Assembly to adjourn well before each new fiscal year begins July 1.

Part of that amendment states: "A bill passed after May 31 shall not become effective prior to June 1 of the next calendar year unless the General Assembly by the vote of three-fifths of the members elected to each house provides for an earlier effective date."

Before that amendment, the three-fifths requirement kicked in on July 1, just as the new fiscal year began.

Capital idea

Don't look for miracles, but there's a move afoot in the General Assembly to make sure the governor is in Springfield any day of overtime or special sessions this summer.

State Rep. SANDRA PIHOS, R-Glen Ellyn, introduced a House resolution Thursday that calls on the governor to "reside in Springfield ready to negotiate" during any of those days.

"In the five years that I've been in Springfield, the only time that I've seen the governor there to answer questions or give us his perspective," Pihos said, was at this spring's House hearing on the proposed gross receipts tax, in addition to his annual budget and State of the State addresses.

"I have found that when everybody sits at the table in a collaborative way, we can get a lot more done," she said.

Blagojevich is often not in Springfield on session days. The Democratic governor did make it to Springfield for some days in recent weeks but didn't meet with Republican leaders.

More than 40 co-sponsors - all Republicans so far - had signed onto the resolution as of late last week.

Do the math: Numbers begin to add up for Republicans

It's almost like an infomercial's promise: Take our product and see amazing results! You'll feel stronger overnight!

At least on the surface, it was that kind of metamorphosis for members of the House Republican caucus at midnight Thursday. That's when the political math changed so that instead of a simple majority, most legislation requires 60 percent approval. That means some Republicans have to go along with any final agreement on a budget and most other matters that will take effect in the new fiscal year, which begins July 1. That's because 60 percent is 71 votes, and there are only 66 Democrats in the 118-member House.

In some years past, governors would negotiate with caucus leaders of both parties leading up to a summer budget agreement. But that hasn't been the case for at least a couple of years with Gov. ROD BLAGOJEVICH, whose 2002 campaign promises to open up the state budget process now look laughable because he rarely visits Springfield, meets the press or talks to Republican leaders.

Before June 1 arrived last week, Blagojevich even made a public point of his intention to box out the GOP in budget influence.

"We should do everything we can to get the business of the people done on time so that we don't empower the House Republicans," he said. "We know what their proposals are and what that means to the things Democrats care about."

Well, Democrats, who control the House and Senate, couldn't quite figure out what they want as a group. Many Democratic legislators see education as the state's top priority while Blagojevich campaigned this spring for broad new taxes to fund universal access to health insurance. He has yet to take no for an answer.

So, you might wonder, what do rank-and-file House Republicans think of their new-found power?

"It's nice that we're finally part of the process," said Rep. RICH BRAUER, R-Petersburg. "I think by being part of the process, we're going to have compromise and we're going to have a lot better budget bill in the end. First of all, we're not going to have a huge tax increase."

House Republicans at one point proposed expanding existing casinos to pay for a capital plan for roads and other building needs, and Brauer thinks that idea could fly.

"It doesn't have any new (casino) locations, and I think it's reasonable," he said.

Brauer, who joined the House when Blagojevich became governor, said he's frustrated with the process but used to it. He thinks more seasoned colleagues, who remember more open budget processes, are even more frustrated.

Rep. BILL MITCHELL, R-Forsyth, a House member since 1999, said with the new power comes responsibility to craft a good budget.

"People want the General Assembly to work together - Republicans and Democrats," Mitchell said, "and I think, hopefully, this will be a new day and we'll be glad to work with the governor. I mean, I'm trying to be optimistic."

As for the governor's desire for a big health-care plan, Mitchell said Blagojevich has to do a better job of persuasion.

"If he's still interested in that, he could come to the Republican caucus ... and then work with us (to) see what our priorities are."

I asked if he would trust Blagojevich in that process. Mitchell noted that even Democrats demand memorandums of understanding to put Blagojevich's budget promises in writing.

"You want to trust him, but you have to be real skeptical about it," Mitchell said.

"You're glad you finally have a seat at the table," said Rep. JIM WATSON, R-Jacksonville. He said cooperation is necessary, but he also wondered if Democrats might still find a way to dominate.

"It's important that we add constructively to the process if we're ever going to get out of here," he said.

Watson worries a lot about the state's lag in paying bills.

"If we've had a balanced budget every year for five years, how in the world do we have a structural deficit?" he said. He said he'd have to look closely at any new revenue source to make sure it helps close existing budget gaps.

Rep. JIL TRACY, R-Mount Sterling, thinks House Republicans and Democrats haven't been that far apart philosophically in this spring's budget battle - both going for just a modest increase. However, she doubts some of the numbers passed in the House Democrats' version of the budget last week, which Democrats claimed would raise about $300 million by ending certain business tax breaks.

She also thinks exclusion of Republicans this spring hurt chances for a solution.

"If we hadn't been left out, perhaps we wouldn't be in this situation right now," Tracy said.

Rep. RAYMOND POE, R-Springfield, in the House for a dozen years, remains wary that Democrats will find a way to continue to keep Republicans out of the loop on major issues. One such scenario, he said, is that the budget passed by the House last week could be voted on in the Senate, where the Democrats' 37 members is more than 60 percent of the 59-member body.

Passage could send that budget to the governor - though its priorities are far from what Blagojevich has promoted this spring.

Still, Poe hopes that the new GOP power will provide a way for members like him to get things for their districts. He would particularly like to see $300,000 in operating money for Springfield's medical district in the budget. It's not there yet.

And only time will tell if a budget is "there yet" by July or August.

The Republicans were empowered last week because of a 1994 state constitutional amendment designed to encourage the General Assembly to adjourn well before each new fiscal year begins July 1.

Part of that amendment states: "A bill passed after May 31 shall not become effective prior to June 1 of the next calendar year unless the General Assembly by the vote of three-fifths of the members elected to each house provides for an earlier effective date."

Before that amendment, the three-fifths requirement kicked in on July 1, just as the new fiscal year began.

Capital idea

Don't look for miracles, but there's a move afoot in the General Assembly to make sure the governor is in Springfield any day of overtime or special sessions this summer.

State Rep. SANDRA PIHOS, R-Glen Ellyn, introduced a House resolution Thursday that calls on the governor to "reside in Springfield ready to negotiate" during any of those days.

"In the five years that I've been in Springfield, the only time that I've seen the governor there to answer questions or give us his perspective," Pihos said, was at this spring's House hearing on the proposed gross receipts tax, in addition to his annual budget and State of the State addresses.

"I have found that when everybody sits at the table in a collaborative way, we can get a lot more done," she said.

Blagojevich is often not in Springfield on session days. The Democratic governor did make it to Springfield for some days in recent weeks but didn't meet with Republican leaders.

More than 40 co-sponsors - all Republicans so far - had signed onto the resolution as of late last week.