August 2007

Less Popular than George Bush

ArchPundit August 29, 2007 0 Comment

From Rasmussen for Fox Chicago 

1* How do you rate the way that George W. Bush is performing his roll as President?  Excellent, good, fair, or poor?

            15% Excellent

            17% Good

            14% Fair

            53% Poor

            1% Not Sure

2* How do you rate the way that Rod Blagojevich is performing his roll as Governor?  Excellent, good, fair, or poor?

            5% Excellent

            17% Good

            25% Fair

            53% Poor

            1% Not Sure

Rod Blagojevich has a lower popularity than the folks who formed the core of Alan Keyes support–the same who like Bush.  Think about that for a moment.

A note to Mark Kirk from the poll:

5* When it comes to the War in Iraq, should the United States withdraw all combat troops immediately, bring the combat troops home within a year, or stay until the mission is completed?

            26% Withdraw Immediately

            38% Bring Troops Home Within a Year

            29% Stay Until Mission Complete

            7% Not Sure

The war is only supported by a small group of Bush dead enders. You are about to be a former Member of Congress.

To the Hillary contingent at the State Fair–give it up:

6* Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton both claim to come from Illinois. Which candidate better represents the state of Illinois?

            61% Obama

            14% Clinton

            25% Not Sure

And finally, what I’d really like to see is a poll that measures whether Blagojevich is seen as a Democrat or his own brand. From the following statistic, it appears he has successfully flamed out on his own without dragging the party down despite the bleating of the ICFST.

11* Who is most to blame for the government’s budget stalemate—Governor Rod Blagojevich, the state legislature, special interest groups, or voters?

            53% Blagojevich

            19% State Legislature

            20% Special Interest Groups

            2% Voters

            7% Not Sure

Spinning Out of Control

ArchPundit August 28, 2007 1 Comment

Governor sues Madigan 

SPRINGFIELD – Gov. Rod Blagojevich has sued House Speaker Michael Madigan for allegedly concocting a scheme to let lawmakers ignore the governor’s frequent calls for special legislative sessions. In the lawsuit, Blagojevich accused Madigan of acts “aimed at eradicating the governor’s constitutional and statutory powers.”

He is asking a judge to order Madigan to hold special sessions at times and dates of the governor’s choosing.

Blagojevich did not sue Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago), his chief legislative ally, even though few senators have shown up for the same weekend sessions. 

The Governor has pulled off something impressive; making Mike Madigan look sympathetic.

From the Illinois Constitution:

(b)  The Governor may convene the General Assembly or the
Senate alone in special session by a proclamation stating the
purpose of the session; and only business encompassed by such
purpose, together with any impeachments or confirmation of
appointments shall be transacted. Special sessions of the
General Assembly may also be convened by joint proclamation
of the presiding officers of both houses, issued as provided
by law.

So, when the Governor didn’t offer up any actual legislation to consider, the Lege Members has literally nothing to do unless they wanted to sit around and shoot the shit about the subject.

There is no indication that the Governor gets to set the session time nor any redress if they session is gaveled in/gaveled out.  The Governor is a part of the Executive Branch and while he can order a session, he cannot control the session.  That is the purview of the Legislative branch. There is no language to indicate he can set the time nor compel attendance.

While it’s very unclear to me, the Legislative Immunity clause may apply here:

SECTION 12. LEGISLATIVE IMMUNITY
Except in cases of treason, felony or breach of peace, a
member shall be privileged from arrest going to, during, and
returning from sessions of the General Assembly. A member
shall not be held to answer before any other tribunal for any
speech or debate, written or oral, in either house. These
immunities shall apply to committee and legislative
commission proceedings.

Regardless, the Governor can call a session, but he cannot run the session as he sees fit.