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Governor, leaders meet; shouting ensues

Posted November 14, 2007 10:00 pm

Mike Ramsey

Gov. Rod Blagojevich and legislative leaders met Wednesday but remained divided over how to generate a funding boost for Chicago-area mass transit while creating new casinos to pay for state construction projects.

Participants offered divergent views on the progress of the long-simmering negotiations. House Speaker Michael Madigan, a Chicago Democrat at odds with Blagojevich, left early and said the gathering had devolved into "non-productive shouting and threats and allegations."

The remark was an apparent reference to state Sen. Rickey Hendon, D-Chicago, who joined discussions on the potential gambling expansion. Hendon said he became vocal because Madigan rejected proposals in the developing gaming package that would aid minorities through casino-ownership participation and through revenue sharing with distressed communities.

"I talk loud just naturally," Hendon told reporters who camped outside the governor's 16th-floor office at the James R. Thompson Center. "I come from the West Side. You got to talk loud to be heard."

Madigan spokesman Steve Brown said the speaker was relaying concerns that members of the House Black Caucus have about Hendon's "schemes." The black caucus members, for example, would want minority casino investors to be selected by lottery, rather than at a licensee's discretion, Brown said.

Other participants in Wednesday's meeting downplayed the exchange between Madigan and Hendon and offered a more positive spin.

"Just because there's a little shouting doesn't mean it's a bad meeting," said House Minority Leader Tom Cross, R-Oswego. "Some people have different styles."

Blagojevich predicted leaders would be able to resolve the intertwined issues of mass transit and casinos by Thanksgiving, well before the cash-strapped Chicago Transit Authority is forced to begin cutting service and raising fares in January.

Senate President Emil Jones, D-Chicago, was even more optimistic.

"I believe we can wrap this up in the next day or two, really," he said. "The issues that are separating us are very, very minute."

Actually, stark disagreements remained among the principals. Madigan said he continues to support a regional sales tax increase for the CTA and its sister transit agencies, even though Republicans and Blagojevich oppose it.

"In Illinois government today, people don't want to do the tough things," Madigan said. "I'm prepared to vote for a tax increase for mass transit."

Cross continued to push an alternative idea to tap a share of state gasoline sales tax revenue for mass transit, but that would require filling a hole in the state budget. There are differences of opinion on how to offset that deficit.

Meanwhile, Cross and his Republican counterpart in the Senate, Minority Leader Frank Watson of Greenville, said transit riders should pay a modest fare increase as part of a funding solution. Democrats oppose a fare hike.

The scale of the proposed gambling expansion remained in flux. Cross said the plan would feature at its core a Chicago land-based casino and one additional riverboat casino, but Hendon said there could be as many as three new riverboats outside of Chicago.

Republicans have insisted on a capital program that would bring construction dollars to their districts before they will support a financial bailout for the CTA. A Senate-approved capital bill calls for the Chicago casino and two new riverboats at undetermined locations. The measure also would allow existing riverboat casinos to increase their capacities.

Also making an appearance Wednesday at the Thompson Center was Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, who reportedly focused on transit while talking with Blagojevich and the House and Senate leaders. Like Madigan, Daley left early. He was tight-lipped about his impressions.

"You have to be optimistic; you can't be pessimistic," the mayor said.

Blagojevich invited leaders to his office for another meeting that was scheduled for 10 a.m. today (Thursday).

Mike Ramsey can be reached at (312) 857-2323 or ghns-ramsey@sbcglobal.net.

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