Illinois special session tocost up to $80,000
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By Kurt Erickson | Thursday, July 03, 2008 |
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 that 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.
Kurt Erickson can be contacted at (217) 789-0865 or kurt.erickson@lee.net.
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