News

Madigan proposal aimed at reining in Blagojevich

Posted February 14, 2008 10:00 pm

Doug Finke

Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan wants to put curbs on Gov. Rod Blagojevich's power, prompting a Republican leader to predict the legislature will "grind to a halt" this year.

Madigan, D-Chicago, is seeking to add a clause to most House bills preventing Blagojevich and his state agencies from writing their own rules about how to administer the laws.

Madigan believes the governor has abused his authority to do that, especially last fall when the Blagojevich administration unilaterally tired to expand health-care programs by rewriting eligibility requirements. The General Assembly didn't approve the expansion, and Blagojevich said an obscure legislative panel did not have the authority to stop him.

"The issue today is one that could amount to a constitutional crisis," said Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie, D-Chicago, Madigan's top lieutenant. "The governor is not a lawmaker. He is an executive."

Not only will the House put the clause in most House bills, she said, but will also add it to any bills that originate in the Senate and are passed over to the House.

Lawmakers often pass bills and have state agencies draft the usually arcane rules needed to fully administer the laws. A bipartisan panel of lawmakers, the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, reviews the rules and can reject them.

In fact, JCAR last fall rejected Blagojevich's attempt to expand the health-care program by calling it an emergency. The administration responded that JCAR's decisions are only advisory.

House Minority Leader Tom Cross, R-Oswego, predicted Madigan's action will result in nothing passing the General Assembly. The Senate, which is presided over by Blagojevich ally Senate President Emil Jones, D-Chicago, won't go along with restricting the governor's power, Cross predicted. That sets the state up for a total impasse.

"This system is going to grind to a halt," Cross said. "Nothing is going to happen this session. At the end of the day, there are things that have to happen. People are going to suffer."

Currie said she isn't sure that the Senate will oppose Madigan's clause.

Lawmakers can avoid problems by filling in all the details in their bills rather than wait until later, she added.

Jones spokeswoman Cindy Davidsmeyer said Jones hadn't see what Madigan is talking about and had no comment.

Blagojevich spokeswoman Rebecca Rausch said Madigan's idea will hamstring state agencies that need to respond to emergencies.

"Because the proposal ignores the constitutional framework that the legislature must follow, this proposal appears to compromise public safety,'' Rausch said in an e-mail.

Doug Finke can be reached a (217) 788-1527.

Article Categories
News