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St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Lee Enterprises

Thursday, July 3, 2008 10:02 PM CDT
Taxpayers on hook for special session costs

By KURT ERICKSON, JG/T-C Springfield Bureau

SPRINGFIELD — Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s decision to call lawmakers back to town next week will cost taxpayers an estimated $70,000 to $80,000.

The added cost at a time when the state is operating with no budget in place comes as many lawmakers say they doubt the governor’s demands to fix a gaping hole in the state’s fiscal year 2009 spending plan will be met.

“It doesn’t sound too hopeful,” state Rep. John Bradley, D-Marion, said Thursday.

In 2007, taxpayers were billed an estimated $1 million for the lengthy overtime session. In 2004, the cost of overtime sessions was about $150,000.

The governor’s call for a two-day special session beginning July 9 is not only drawing criticism because of the cost.

State Rep. Jack Franks, a Woodstock Democrat, is calling for the creation of a special committee to investigate whether there is enough evidence to proceed with articles of impeachment against the governor.

Franks, a frequent critic of the governor, said Blagojevich is threatening major cuts in the budget, rather than offering up compromise proposals to the General Assembly.

“Governors before him have made tough choices when it came to the budget. This governor is squandering a perfect opportunity to cut wasteful spending,” Franks said in a statement.

As part of his call for a special session, Blagojevich wants the House to approve a series of revenue-generating proposals that would help close a $2-billion budget gap, as well as launch a $34-billion construction program.

The proposals have been approved in the Senate, but have run into a major roadblock in the House. Democrats who control the chamber say little has changed since the proposals stalled on the final day of the regular legislative session on May 31.

House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, has scheduled Wednesday to be a lengthy day of testimony regarding the budget plan. A similar day-long hearing last year resulted in the sound defeat of a tax hike on businesses Blagojevich had proposed.

Along with concerns about raising money by expanding gambling, some lawmakers say they don’t trust Blagojevich to fairly distribute money for construction projects. They want a more detailed list of how the money will be spent.

“We all want a construction bill, but we want it in a proper form,” Bradley said.

The cost of the special sessions is based on the amount of money lawmakers receive for meals and lodging when they are in Springfield. Estimates also include the cost of roundtrip flights to the capital city by Blagojevich, as well as travel and lodging costs for administrative and support personnel, such as gubernatorial aides and doormen.

Contact Kurt Erickson at kurt.erickson@lee.net or 789-0865

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gringa wrote on Jul 4, 2008 12:11 AM:

" Here's my broken-record response to all the folks trying to run the state in Springfield (Chicago): CUT ALL EXPENSES 5%. Period, problem solved. $60-billion X 5% = $3-billion. Don't even try to convince us that ALL budget items can't be trimmed by at least 5%. "

1 cav wrote on Jul 4, 2008 3:23 AM:

" All Special cessions should be with out pay of any kind. Then maybe they would get their job done and not mess with all the petty unconstitutional bills they pass.
Maybe they should only meet the three summer months and not at all any other time of the year? The less time they are meeting, the better off we are. "

sam adams 52 wrote on Jul 4, 2008 2:44 PM:

" These dirt bag politicians could demonstrate a lot of good will if they did not collect an extra paycheck for doing their job behind schedule. Travel to Springfield, eat and pay lodging on their own dime and do their job. In the real world salaried employees work for an agreed amount of money to perform. Extra money is paid for HIGH performance in the form of bonuses. These guys don't get the job done and then get rewarded when they should be fired. "

Late Bird wrote on Jul 4, 2008 4:03 PM:

" Or better yet, let them not only pay for special sessions out of their own pockets, but also throw in a couple thousand dollars each into the state budget out of their own pockets for being sluggish and indecisive! "

HerChild wrote on Jul 4, 2008 5:45 PM:

" Yeah, if they're late, let them pay!
We have to pay late fees for everything,
they should pay late fees too!! "

Rotty wrote on Jul 5, 2008 2:25 AM:

" And if they don't want to pay the late fees, turn them over to a collection agency....... US!
heeheehee "

longtimegone wrote on Jul 5, 2008 8:00 AM:

" Time to impeach all our elected thieves,Who else keeps a job by taking bribes and making mistakes? "

The Question wrote on Jul 5, 2008 8:27 AM:

" Oh, my, $80,000. How shocking.
And yet, oddly, no loudmouth Republican cares about the cost of the Iraq occupation, which is $122,820 PER MINUTE. "

Jay C. wrote on Jul 5, 2008 5:01 PM:

" They need to NOT collect pay for failing to to settle business before the 4th AND declare they won't take pay raises......Gov. Big Blag too! No one else is getting raises. They need to go back to the beginning when gov't was first started. The reps and senators served on their own dime. In other words, with no pay. They said it was their civic duty to serve without pay. H'mmm seems they're not as patriotic as they used to be. "

Harry Potter wrote on Jul 6, 2008 4:50 PM:

" Here's an idea on how to get some people off of Blago's back. Have him change his party affiliation to Republican, and all of a sudden his critics on this site would be singing his praises. Hey, if they praise Bush and Cheney after what they have done to this country, surely they could give old Rod some kudos. LOL! "

Harry Potter wrote on Jul 6, 2008 5:24 PM:

" When you consider that the majority of our congressmen and senators are lawyers, is it any wonder where in trouble on the the state level as well as the national scene? "

HisChild wrote on Jul 6, 2008 5:51 PM:

" Rotty wrote on Jul 5, 2008 2:25 AM:
" And if they don't want to pay the late fees, turn them over to a collection agency....... US!
heeheehee "

AMEN ROTTY! *LOL!*
We just loveth your sense of humor!
Thanks for brighteningeth our days over & overeth again! :-) "

Rockin Rotty wrote on Jul 6, 2008 10:18 PM:

" Ya Welcome, HisChild, & Thanks!
:-)

And if they don't pay us, then we'll use them instead of sandbags to fight the mighty Mississippi.
As porky as they are, I'm sure they could hold back the Atlantic Ocean!
LOL!

See Yaz,
~Rotty
:-) "

Tom Andres wrote on Jul 6, 2008 10:42 PM:

" I like the simplicity and the common sense of the first post on this thread: CUT ALL EXPENSES 5%. Period, problem solved. $60-billion X 5% = $3-billion. "