BRACE FOR BLOWBACK:

Dem dispute may give GOP budget say (DAVE MCKINNEY, CHRIS FUSCO AND LESLIE GRIFFY, May 31, 2004, Chicago Sun-Times)

With their leaders going separate ways, Democrats fumed Sunday at the growing possibility of budget gridlock driving them into legislative overtime -- a prospect that could lift Republicans off state government's doormat.

Seemingly oblivious to the gravity all around her, Gov. Blagojevich's 8-year-old daughter Amy played volleyball with a staffer in a Capitol hall while her father was entangled in a behind-the-scenes political wrestling match with House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago).

As hope of a budget deal appeared to crash, sending the General Assembly out the door early during a rare Sunday session, an adjournment deadline looms today in a poisoned atmosphere where Democrats hold all the power but can't get along.

Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago) left the Capitol at 10 p.m. and summed up the situation in particularly bleak terms: "It's going to be a long, long year."

There may be no state Democrats are counting on more heavily in both the presidential and senate contests.

Posted by Orrin Judd at May 31, 2004 10:16 AM