May 27, 2004
SINKING STAR:
House deals Blagojevich budget defeat (DAVE MCKINNEY AND LESLIE GRIFFY, May 27, 2004, Chicago Sun-Times)
The Illinois House on Wednesday overwhelmingly defeated a $304 million plan to end several corporate tax breaks, dealing Gov. Blagojevich a sobering setback and putting a budget deal before a Monday deadline deeper in doubt.The bid to close so-called business loopholes, a cornerstone of the governor's revenue package, drew only 23 "yes" votes and 81 "no" votes after the state Senate narrowly backed the proposal earlier.
"That was a significant message to the governor that maybe some of your revenue is in trouble," Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson (R-Greenville) said of the House vote, which drew universal praise from business groups.
While House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) voted for the plan Wednesday, he allowed the measure to be unceremoniously voted down at the same time Blagojevich had scheduled a new round of budget talks with the legislative leaders -- a summit Madigan chose to skip.
If the vote's timing was merely a coincidence, the speaker's absence from budget negotiations for a second straight day was not. Denying that any messages were being sent, a top aide said Madigan's schedule was too busy to permit any time to attend talks on a budget compromise, producing smirks from some Statehouse observers.
"I don't think we're obstructing anything that I can see," Madigan spokesman Steve Brown said.
The test of wills between Blagojevich and Madigan has brought business at the Capitol to a virtual standstill, increasing the likelihood the Democratic-controlled Legislature will miss a Monday adjournment deadline, go into overtime and empower Republicans to dictate terms of a new state budget.
Though it took truly disgusting scandals to end the GOP hammerlock on the statehouse, the election of Mr. Blagojevich was supposed to indicate a swing Left by IL and make him a potential national candidate--especially since Ms Granholm in neighboring MI is ineligible. Instead he's fighting Mayor Daley and his own legislative "allies"? Bill Richardson looks better and better for the vp nod. Posted by Orrin Judd at May 27, 2004 11:37 AM
Wasn't Ms Granholm also being cut down to size on a number of fronts? Of course, then there is Mr. Vilsac and his recent, mainstream veto of the "fetal homicide" bill. A very deep (as in sinking) bench, indeed.
Posted by: MG at May 27, 2004 11:58 AMI've seen Richardson has his own problems re his Clinton admin activities (UN Rep and Energy Secretary). Also NRO noted yesterday that he signed and strongly defends a bill to give illegal aliens driver licenses (one of the things that sunk Davis in CA). Have also seen polls that suggest he won't bring over FL, AZ, CO for Kerry.
As for IL I've lost track of whether Bush will be on the ballot or not- any update?
Granholm was born in Canada - she's out. Richardson is a mixed bag. He seems friendly enough on the talk shows, but he has lots of history from the Energy Dept., including the Wen Ho Lee episode. Plus, he will not be convincing as a possible replacement should Kerry no longer be there.
Kerry should pick Teresa.
Posted by: jim hamlen at May 27, 2004 4:42 PM