News

Threats, insults fly as Illinois budget standoff continues

Posted July 07, 2007 11:00 pm

Doug Finke and Adriana Colindres

The feud between Gov. Rod Blagojevich and House Speaker Michael Madigan degenerated Saturday into an argument about who gets to set meeting times.

What was expected to be a routine day of punching of the clock at the Capitol quickly escalated into calls for Blagojevich's impeachment and the threat of possible legal action by the governor's office against the House.

A scheduled meeting between Blagojevich and the four leaders to discuss the budget ballooned into a gripe session attended by more than 60 lawmakers at the Executive Mansion after Madigan invited them to attend.

The budget impasse was not resolved.

Problems started early Saturday because Madigan decided to call the House into session at 10 a.m., despite a declaration from Blagojevich that the House and Senate should convene at 2 p.m. Madigan wanted to finish work early so House members could return home overnight Saturday before returning to Springfield Sunday.

Madigan agreed that Blagojevich has the authority to call the General Assembly into special session, but said the governor does not have the authority to dictate the time of the meetings. Blagojevich's office disagreed, saying it has the constitutional authority to set not only the date of the special sessions, but the time as well. The administration said it is exploring its legal options.

"We're going to evaluate that and make whatever decision we need to do to protect the executive branch," said William Quinlan, Blagojevich's general counsel. "The governor took an oath to uphold the constitution of Illinois."

Before the House could finish its work Saturday, Blagojevich issued another proclamation calling for another special session to start at 2:30 p.m. Nonetheless, Madigan adjourned the House at about 11:45 a.m.

Rank and file lawmakers who've been forced to stay in Springfield with little to do while the budget impasse continues erupted in anger Saturday.

"What difference does it make if we meet at 10 o'clock, two o'clock or four o'clock?," said Rep. Bill Black, R-Danville. "Do we want to precipitate a constitutional crisis over the time we meet?"

"I believe we should look into what it would take to see if he (Blagojevich) is to the point where impeachment proceedings should start," said Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro. "I am dead serious."

Republican leaders quickly squelched any further impeachment talk, saying it would be counterproductive.

"We have a madman (as governor)," Rep. Joe Lyons, D-Chicago, said to reporters. "The man is insane."

"All I'm asking for these representatives to do is come to work and pass a budget and if they think that's insane, that's their opinion," Blagojevich said later.

The House will not return until 5 p.m. Sunday, an hour later than Blagojevich ordered them to meet in yet another special session proclamation.

As the House prepared to quit working Saturday, Madigan suggested members show up at a budget meeting between the governor and four leaders scheduled for noon. He said the invitation was in keeping with Blagojevich's desire to include more rank-and-file members in budget talks.

By the time it was done, more than 60 lawmakers - both representatives and senators - showed up at the Executive Mansion where they were served a hastily prepared lunch of pasta and salad. The meeting was held behind closed doors in the Mansion's ballroom.

Madigan said he told Blagojevich to stop referring to him as a "right-wing Republican" because he does not support the governor's budget plan.

"I took him aside privately and said, 'Look, knock this stuff off. It doesn't help what we are trying to do,' " Madigan said.

Rep. Brent Hassert, R-Romeoville, said there was "tension in the room. At any time, you could see the room could explode."

Blagojevich took a brief break from the meeting to speak with reporters.

"It's a healthy discussion. People are expressing their views," Blagojevich said.

Blagojevich promised to speak further after the meeting, but later changed his mind and did not comment further.

Rep. Jim Watson, R-Jacksonville, said the meeting was an eye-opener.

"We could all see for ourselves how there is no real dialogue. There's no compromise or give and take," Watson said. "This is his view: `I'm willing to negotiate as long as you agree with my view.' "

"This meeting took us further from a resolution," said Rep. Lou Lang, D-Skokie. "The governor is continuing his spin program."

However, Sen. John Sullivan, D-Rushville, said he sensed a greater willingness by the leaders to compromise on a budget.

"I was somewhat encouraged by some of the comments," Sullivan said.

Article Categories
News