Capitol Notebook: Yet another special session for Blago

Play of the Week

Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who has called more special legislative sessions than any other governor since the 1970 Illinois Constitution took effect, on Thursday said he'd schedule yet another special session, this one for Jan. 2, 2008.

In a letter, he urged legislators "to work quickly to pass a statewide infrastructure plan, so that there is also sufficient support for a long-term solution to mass transit funding."

Good luck with that.

Head Scratcher

At the end of November, the governor said this: "We are considering the possibility of daily special sessions if this process continues to drag on and we can't reach a consensus on a (mass transit) funding solution and a capital bill. ... There is the possibility we could have special sessions every day as we get closer and closer to Christmas."

In his letter Thursday, he said this: "I considered calling a special session this week but was informed by the legislative leaders that many of their members would be unavailable, and that it would be counterproductive to call them in right before their holiday break."

Quotes of Note

"There aren't enough cowboys and cowgirls to have a rodeo ... so I think the rodeo has to wait until after the first of the year." -- State Rep. Roger Eddy, R-Hutsonville, speculating on Tuesday that members of the General Assembly would not return to Springfield in 2007.

"If we start to play footsies, let me know because I can't feel it." - Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs Director Tammy Duckworth, while seated next to Loren Barnes, commander of American Legion Post 32, before a news conference Thursday. Duckworth walks on two artificial legs as a result of being wounded during her military service in Iraq.

Numbers to Know

60 and 30. Those are the numbers of votes needed to pass legislation in the Illinois House of Representatives and Illinois Senate, respectively, once 2008 begins.

"Supermajority" numbers of 71 and 36, respectively, were needed after May 31 to approve any legislation with an immediate effective date.

Coming Up

Jan. 2. The next special legislative session day.