Stupid or Insane
Krol has a very good update on what the Governor’s people are saying:
I just spoke to a Blagojevich aide who told me the plan is to take the $500 million vetoed out of the budget and spend it on health care. I questioned the constitutionality of that — it would seem once the line items are vetoed out, the spending authority goes away — but was told that the administration says that’s the plan. The spending authority is still there and the money is in the general revenue fund, the administration argues. Time to crack open the Illinois Blue Book and read the Illinois Constitution for the fourth time today.
I’m online and I can do the searches a bit easier in this case and let me say, bullshit. They either are stupid or insane to believe such a thing. This isn’t even a question a court would consider seriously. I have no idea what the Administration is thinking, but at least the JCAR line was plausible, though I still think, but losing strategy as well. This is just making up crap and hoping it sticks to something. Imagine the fun Jim Thompson could have had with this kind of authority.
Rich is, of course, tracking most of the reactions–forgot to link as I started to fire off missives.
August 14th, 2007 at
When I think back to the stem cell thing, it was an il fait accompli. He just did it. With All Kids, he announced and passed before anyone could do anything. Here, he announced it. Does that suggest to anyone that he is positioning himself and seeking the press pop?
Larry, I hope this finds you well,Greg
August 14th, 2007 at
Following the Governor’s logic he could veto the entire budget and substitue his own. Of course if the Senate will not override the veto then he gets his way.
How sad that our Governor must have slept through his law school classes on constitutional law.
August 14th, 2007 at
Thanks Greg–btw, I’m in town Thursday if you want to grab lunch or something (in town on Wednesday, but at, ahem, Governor’s Day.
Stuart—exactly, but I don’t think he can do what he thinks he can. Unless I’m really missing something, he can veto the member initiatives, but he cannot move the money between purposes without approval of at least JCAR which isn’t going to give it to him or a new bill passed which isn’t going to happen either. Rich points out that he hasn’t submitted the veto yet, but if he really tries to redirect cash from say member initiatives which are largely capital types of projects to health care, I don’t see how the Court rules against him. He can sustain the veto, but he cannot keep that money to play with as he likes-it goes back to being unappropriated and I believe falls into Alexi’s care.
Now, I could be wrong, but I don’t see how his idea works.
August 23rd, 2007 at
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