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Threats, insults fly as Illinois budget standoff continues

<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">The feud between Gov. Rod Blagojevich and House Speaker Michael Madigan degenerated Saturday into an argument about who gets to set meeting times.</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>What was expected to be a routine day of punching of the clock at the Capitol quickly escalated into calls for Blagojevich's impeachment and the threat of possible legal action by the governor's office against the House.</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>A scheduled meeting between Blagojevich and the four leaders to discuss the budget ballooned into a gripe session attended by more than 60 lawmakers at the Executive Mansion after Madigan invited them to attend.</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The budget impasse was not resolved.</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Problems started early Saturday because Madigan decided to call the House into session at 10 a.m., despite a declaration from Blagojevich that the House and Senate should convene at 2 p.m.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Madigan wanted to finish work early so House members could return home overnight Saturday before returning to Springfield Sunday.</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Madigan agreed that Blagojevich has the authority to call the General Assembly into special session, but said the governor does not have the authority to dictate the time of the meetings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Blagojevich's office disagreed, saying it has the constitutional authority to set not only the date of the special sessions, but the time as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The administration said it is exploring its legal options.</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>"We're going to evaluate that and make whatever decision we need to do to protect the executive branch," said William Quinlan, Blagojevich's general counsel. "The governor took an oath to uphold the constitution of Illinois."</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Before the House could finish its work Saturday, Blagojevich issued another proclamation calling for another special session to start at 2:30 p.m.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Nonetheless, Madigan adjourned the House at about 11:45 a.m.</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Rank and file lawmakers who've been forced to stay in Springfield with little to do while the budget impasse continues erupted in anger Saturday.</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>"What difference does it make if we meet at 10 o'clock, two o'clock or four o'clock?," said Rep. Bill Black, R-Danville.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>"Do we want to precipitate a constitutional crisis over the time we meet?"</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>"I believe we should look into what it would take to see if he (Blagojevich) is to the point where impeachment proceedings should start," said Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro. "I am dead serious."</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Republican leaders quickly squelched any further impeachment talk, saying it would be counterproductive.</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>"We have a madman (as governor)," Rep. Joe Lyons, D-Chicago, said to reporters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>"The man is insane."</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>"All I'm asking for these representatives to do is come to work and pass a budget and if they think that's insane, that's their opinion," Blagojevich said later.</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The House will not return until 5 p.m. Sunday, an hour later than Blagojevich ordered them to meet in yet another special session proclamation.</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>As the House prepared to quit working Saturday, Madigan suggested members show up at a budget meeting between the governor and four leaders scheduled for noon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He said the invitation was in keeping with Blagojevich's desire to include more rank-and-file members in budget talks.</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>By the time it was done, more than 60 lawmakers - both representatives and senators - showed up at the Executive Mansion where they were served a hastily prepared lunch of pasta and salad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The meeting was held behind closed doors in the Mansion's ballroom.</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Madigan said he told Blagojevich to stop referring to him as a "right-wing Republican" because he does not support the governor's budget plan.</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>"I took him aside privately and said, 'Look, knock this stuff off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It doesn't help what we are trying to do,' " Madigan said.</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Rep. Brent Hassert, R-Romeoville, said there was "tension in the room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>At any time, you could see the room could explode."</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Blagojevich took a brief break from the meeting to speak with reporters.</font>

<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>"It's a healthy discussion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>People are expressing their views," Blagojevich said.</font>

<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Blagojevich promised to speak further after the meeting, but later changed his mind and did not comment further.</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Rep. Jim Watson, R-Jacksonville, said the meeting was an eye-opener.</font>

<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>"We could all see for ourselves how there is no real dialogue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>There's no compromise or give and take," Watson said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>"This is his view: `I'm willing to negotiate as long as you agree with my view.' "</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>"This meeting took us further from a resolution," said Rep. Lou Lang, D-Skokie. "The governor is continuing his spin program."</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>However, Sen. John Sullivan, D-Rushville, said he sensed a greater willingness by the leaders to compromise on a budget.</font>

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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>"I was somewhat encouraged by some of the comments," Sullivan said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></font>