July 3, 2004
Section:
Page: 5A
Governor unites lawmakers against him
Aaron Chambers
Staff
RRS Metro
Aaron Chambers
Gov. Rod Blagojevich might raise enough money to close the
state's budget deficit by taking his turn in the dunk tank at a local carnival.
It's summertime. That means cotton candy, beating a
groundhog with a chubby mallet before he pops from another hole and a shot at
sinking an unpopular guy into a tank of water.
I imagine legislators would elbow each other to be first in
line for the chance to drop Blagojevich with his suit still dry and his
everything-is-under-control grin still intact from ear to ear.
That performance might even be more effective than the one
Blagojevich is waging in
Blagojevich might even get favorable media coverage.
HE COULD SHOUT his favorite buzz words between dunks:
"No more business as usual!"
Dunk.
"Reform and renewal!"
Dunk.
"I'm busy doing the work of the people!"
Dunk.
His handlers could stand around the tank and remind
onlookers that people chucking balls at the swinging bull's eye may appear
angry because change in government naturally causes friction among the old
hands.
They could explain that the dramatic scene, with all its
laughing and splashing, is a mark of progress. They could note the governor is
inspiring momentous, even historic, change.
Yet here we are.
The fiscal year started Thursday with no state spending plan
in place. Lawmakers approved an interim budget to keep the state running
through the end of July. And on Friday, Blagojevich cut lawmakers loose from
On Tuesday, he and legislative leaders will try again to
forge a budget for the entire fiscal year.
THE GOVERNOR IS locked in incredibly complex budget
negotiations. Because he and the other Democrats that run the state couldn't
muster a budget by May 31, they need support from three-fifths of the
legislators to pass any agreement.
That puts Republicans at the table. And GOP leaders have
forced discussion about a range of nonbudget issues,
including what to do about soaring medical malpractice insurance rates.
Blagojevich swats at what he calls these "collateral
issues," as if they'll go away. They don't.
He says his struggle is about getting more dollars for
education and health care. But each day this dispute appears less about policy
and more about teaching the governor a lesson.
Lawmakers are tired of his condescending attitude toward the
Legislature and his attempts to intimidate individual legislators. They're
tired of his administration suppressing details and distorting the truth.
Lawmakers, lobbyists and other groups are tired of being at
the butt end of his daily publicity antics.
The opposition facing Blagojevich is a force of his own
creation. He actually managed to unite most legislators against him. And
chances are, he will give substantial ground before
this dispute is resolved.
Here's a brilliant observation I heard from a veteran
lobbyist: "I've never seen anybody successfully manage to insult somebody
into agreeing with them."
But Blagojevich keeps trying.
Contact: achambers@rockford.gannett.com; 217-782-2959